A weekend of shouts as Newquay RNLI are called out three times!
A weekend of shouts as Newquay RNLI are called out three times!
Lifeboats News Release
The first shout came at 5.29am on Saturday 15 July, Newquay RNLI lifeboat volunteers were paged and tasked to search for a person reported to be in the water at Mawgan Porth.
RNLI/Kev Goulding
Newquay's Lifeboat returning after a shout at day break
The charity's Atlantic 85 was launched at 5.38am and the crew proceeded to the area to begin searching. However, the volunteers were stood down at 5.50am, two minutes into the search as confirmation was received that the person had been located ashore.
A further two shouts were received the following day, Sunday 16th July 2023.
The second alert of the weekend was raised at 12.59pm when reports of two people experiencing difficulty in the water at Whipsiderry Beach was received.
Both of the charity’s inshore lifeboats were launched and joined RNLI Lifeguards Newquay from Porth and Watergate Bay (who attended on a rescue water craft).
On arrival it was established that after getting into difficulty whilst swimming at Whipsiderry, two casualties had managed to self-recover but were still in need of medical attention.
Two paramedics who were crewing the D class lifeboat were put ashore to provide medical assistance after the lifeguards had helped to stabilise the casualties. The lifeboat paramedics assessed the casualties for water inhalation, administered treatment for shock with one of the casualties needing further O2 therapy.
After establishing a secure landing site and following initial treatment by the critical care team, the casualties were transferred to Newquay Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 924 and flown to Treliske Hospital for further treatment.
The final shout was raised at 6.55pm to a report of a wing surfer in difficulty off Porth Island.
The charity’s Atlantic 85 was launched in a south westerly wind with a one metre swell and headed for the area. On arrival at the scene there was no sign of the person, so the search was widened to Whipsiderry and Porth beach.
The coastguard then requested a shoreline search and the charity’s smaller D class lifeboat was launched to assist in the shallower water.
The search was called off when the wing surfer called the coastguard and said that he had self-recovered and was safe and well onshore.
At 8pm both lifeboats were stood down and returned to Newquay Lifeboat station.
Key facts about the RNLI
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.
