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Girvan RNLI carry out Night search for kayaker

Lifeboats News Release

999 call prompts multi agency search

Girvan Lifeboat Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan

RNLI/Craig Sommerville

Girvan Lifeboat in the hours of darkness

Last night Friday 26th July At 23:56 our volunteer crews pagers rang out with the signal for immediate launch.

An Immediate launch request is one that tells us potentially someone is in imminent danger, so with that our volunteers made their way to the station.

On arrival our crew was briefed by our Launching Authority who was speaking with UK Coastguard Operations Centre in Belfast and the information received by the 1st informant was they believed to have seen a kayak floating with no person aboard near Culzean Castle and lost sight of it.

With this information our crew headed along the jetty and our all-weather Shannon class Lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan' was soon leaving the harbour and making best speed North.

Once on scene liasing with Belfast Coastguard our crew carried out a search using high powered spotlights and illuminating parachute flares along with our night vision equipment, while Coastguard rescue teams from Girvan, Ballantrae and Ayr were searching the shoreline and speaking with the 1st informant.

After a detailed search of the coastline, information was received that the kayak had been located ashore, with it being dark, it would appear the kayaker has made their way safely ashore as the informant lost sight of them, with this being the case after a couple of hours at sea and searching the coastline and happy that no life was at risk all teams were stood down.

With the call being deemed a false alarm with good intent. Girvan Lifeboat then returned to station and was made ready for the next service call and our crew returned to their beds.

Girvan Lifeboat Operations Manager John Gourlay said of the incident, "Although this was a false alarm with good intent, the informant did the correct thing, they saw something they didn't think was right, believing someone could be in trouble and dialled 999 right away, even if they weren't quite sure we would rather the wheels are put in motion and the emergency services start making their way as soon as possible as minutes and seconds can make a huge difference if you are in trouble at sea.

If you see or believe someone to be in trouble at sea or along out coastline, don't hesitate dial 999 straight away and ask for the Coastguard.

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.

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

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