Two shouts along Whitsand bay for Looe RNLI volunteers

Last Sunday evening, 11 August 2024, crew pagers sounded at 6.38 pm after Falmouth Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a report expressing concern that a paddleboarder was in difficulties off Rame Head. Within seven minutes Looe RNLI volunteer crews had launched the charity’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Sheila and Dennis Tongue II. Facing moderate seas and a force 4 south easterly wind, our crew were tasked to conduct a shoreline search along Whitsand bay towards Rame Head. Finding no one in difficulty our crew then searched around the Rame Head area. Just as they started to search westwards, back along the coast the crew received an update from Falmouth MRCC saying they had received confirmation that the paddleboarder was safe on shore. Our crew were stood down to return to station. It was a special day for one of the volunteer crew on the Atlantic 85, Jonty, who was celebrating his birthday when the pagers sounded. Jonty takes up the story saying “I was at my nan’s, close to the station when the launch request came in. I made my way to the station to join other crew members on the Atlantic 85. My family were just about to order an Indian takeaway when the call came in, they decided to wait for us to return before ordering, so our curries were a little later than expected!” Jonty goes on to say “that even though this was a false alarm with good intent, we would always prefer to launch and find nothing untoward, than not to launch and find out later someone was in difficulties”

The following morning, Monday 12 August 2024, RNLI lifeguards on Sharrow beach were setting up for their daily patrol when they became aware of a female trapped by the incoming tide in a small gully below Freathy cliffs. They requested assistance from their colleagues on Tregonhawke beach and Looe’s D Class inshore lifeboat. Falmouth MRCC also tasked Plymouth Lifeboat Station and Coastguard rescue teams from Looe, Tamar and Plymouth. When the pagers sounded at 9.59 am, Looe volunteer crew members faced a challenge getting to the lifeboat station as one of the roads in Looe was closed due to a building fire. Two crew left their van on West Looe quayside and jumped onto Dave Haines’s boat. Dave who is our Lifeboat Operations Manager took them across the river to the lifeboat station. Even with this challenge the D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II was launched within seven minutes and the crew made their way towards Freathy. Arriving on scene they were briefed by the lifeguards and a decision was taken to extract the casualty using the D Class lifeboat. The casualty was transferred to Plymouth Lifeboat Station’s all-weather lifeboat for onward care.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI’s Atlantic 85 returning to station on Sunday evening, with Jonty, on seat 4, waving
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Jonty as he disembarks from the Atlantic 85
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Freathy - Preparing to extract the casualty onto the D Class inshore lifeboat
Photo credit RNLI Lifeguard SE Cornwall team

Information:

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

· In 2024, the RNLI will be celebrating 200 years - and counting, commemorating this remarkable past, celebrating our lifesaving achievements today, and inspiring a future where we can save every one. More information on RNLI 200 can be found at https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/2024

Media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.