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Newquay RNLI called to assist man taken ill on the Gannel

Lifeboats News Release

At 1.17pm on Tuesday, 12 November, Newquay RNLI volunteers were paged and tasked to assist Newquay coastguard search & rescue team with a casualty that had been taken ill on the river Gannel.

Newquay's D Class inshore lifeboat in the river Gannel

RNLI/Ann-Marie Dale

Newquay's D Class inshore lifeboat
A gentleman had been taken seriously ill while walking on the Gannel, below the former Hotel California. With the tide coming up to high water, the coastguard team requested additional assistance from the lifeboat volunteers as it was proving difficult to move the casualty by land.

The charity's D class inshore lifeboat was launched and helmed by newly qualified helm, James Coombes. However before arriving at the scene, the coastguard team had managed to move the casualty to the safety of land and into an awaiting ambulance. The crew of the lifeboat were stood down and returned to base around 2.00pm.

James said: ‘The conditions were testing whilst travelling over Fistral Bay and negotiating the river Gannel is always challenging due to the regular shifting of the riverbed, however as my first official shout as a qualified helm, I was able to apply the skills and experience that I’ve gained over the last few years’.
Newquay RNLI.

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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