
North Berwick RNLI rescue three on stand up paddleboard
North Berwick RNLI’s volunteer crew launched the charity’s D-class lifeboat SUNIJO on Wednesday 21 August at 4.32pm after multiple 999 calls reporting people in the water from stand up paddleboards.
A group of three children had been paddleboarding close inshore but were quickly taken out to sea by strong offshore winds which were gusting up to 35 knots (40 mph) at the time of launch. When they realised the children were in danger, two adults attempted to reach them one swimming out and another using a paddleboard.
The lifeboat arrived on scene six minutes after launching to find one child and two adults on one paddleboard, having drifted approximately 800m from their launch site. The other two children had made it safely ashore unaided.
The casualties were brought on board the lifeboat and transferred to the lifeboat station where they were checked over by members of the Scottish Ambulance Service. North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team brought other two casualties to the lifeboat station where they were monitored in the warm and dry until they were discharged.
Helm of North Berwick lifeboat, Fraser Fulton said “This was a very serious situation, thankfully with a positive outcome. Offshore winds can be deceiving and can very quickly take you away from safety.”
“The water around North Berwick is cold, even in summer, if you fall into the water it will be a shock and you will get cold very quickly, potentially losing coordination in your arms and legs and finding it difficult to swim.”
“If you’re heading out on the water on a paddleboard, check the forecast and avoid offshore winds. Always wear a buoyancy aid, carry a waterproofed means of calling for help and wear your leash.”
"A paddleboard is much easier to spot and can help you stay afloat so stay with it. In any coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for the coastguard. We thank those who alerted us to this incident which allowed us to respond so quickly.”
Paddleboarding safety
Last year, lifeboat crews launched to paddleboarders across the country 155 times compared to just 52 launches in 2019. The number of lives saved1 has seen a six-fold increase over five years, with volunteers saving 3 lives in 2019, rising to 22 last year.
With 10% of kayakers/canoeists and 9% of paddleboarders2 reporting that they make none of the recommended preparations before hitting the water, the RNLI and Paddle UK are urging people to make safety a priority.
Their key safety advice is to:
• Always wear a buoyancy aid
• Tell someone where you’re going
• Carry a mobile phone
• Check the weather
• Know your limits
Notes to editors
- The RNLI defines a life saved as where the casualty would have died if not for an immediate intervention by the RNLI, another emergency service and/or other third party. This means that many of the launches – for example, to a boat which had suffered mechanical failure - would not be classed as a life saved. Our crews can be tasked for many and varied reasons.
- Data is from the 2023 Watersports Participation survey. Recommended preparations included checking the weather and tides, checking craft for sea worthiness, tell someone where you’re going and wearing specialist clothing.
- Of 155 RNLI lifeboat launches to stand up paddleboarders in 2023, 48% were due to paddleboarders being blown or swept out to sea by offshore winds and tides.
RNLI media contacts
Matthew Gibbons, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, North Berwick,
[email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639,
[email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929,
[email protected]
24 hour RNLI Central Press Office, 01202 336789 or email [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.