
Bridlington RNLI launch to paddleboards struggling with offshore winds
Volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI called to assist 4 young paddleboarders heading out to sea.
Three volunteer crew from Bridlington RNLI were requested to immediately launch by the HM Coastguard at 4.50pm on Sunday (20 August), the inshore lifeboat (ILB) Ernie Wellings was launched at 4.59pm and set off at speed to assist the paddleboarders.
It had been reported earlier to the HM Coastguards, from a concerned family member, that the two paddleboards, each carrying two young persons were slowly heading out to sea just off Wilsthorpe and were possibly struggling against the offshore wind to return to the beach.
The volunteer crew reached the scene within 4 minutes, after checking all the paddleboarders where not in immediate difficulty, were drifting off shore but appeared in good spirits, and were safe and well. Two of the paddleboarders decided to board the lifeboat whilst the other two decided to make their way to shore with the lifeboat escorting them back to the beach
Once the young people had been taken back to the beach and returned to their families the lifeboat crew returned to the lifeboat station at Bridlington and was back on the beach by 5.26pm when it was recovered and was back ready for service shortly after 6pm.
Volunteer Helm of the ILB, Ash Traves said ‘Thankfully this tasking was not too far from the lifeboat station and we were on scene within a matter of minutes. Upon arrival all four paddleboarders were not in instant danger but all were getting further off shore and could have been putting themselves at risk. Often with offshore winds the water looks idyllic and calm however this can be deceptive as offshore winds will quickly blow you and your paddleboard far out to sea, which can make it extremely tiring and difficult to paddle back to shore. If you are on a lifeguarded beach, keep an eye out for the orange windsock to see which way the wind is blowing’.
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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