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Barrow RNLI lifeboat rescues kitesurfer as Storm Ashley rolls in

Lifeboats News Release

Barrow RNLI’s volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat on Sunday afternoon in response to reports of a person in the water.

Barrow Inshore Lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham

RNLI/Chris Clouter

Barrow Inshore Lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham

The request for assistance was received from HM Coastguard in Holyhead at 2.15pm. The information received was that a kitesurfer had got into difficulty near Foulney Island after the casualty had become separated from their board.

The crew was paged and the inshore lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham, was launched at 2.28pm with Jonny Long at the helm along with crew, Saul Tomlin and Fraser Livesey. In challenging conditions, the lifeboat located the casualty who had managed to cling on to a mooring buoy on the east side of Roa Island. The casualty had tried to swim to the shore but in the strengthening wind was unable make any progress. The casualty, who by now had been in the water for some twenty minutes, was taken on board the lifeboat and handed over to the team from Furness Coastguard who were waiting at the Foulney Island car park.

With the casualty safe, the lifeboat returned to the Boathouse at 2.57pm where it was washed down and made ready for the next launch.

The weather at the time of the incident was bright and clear with good visibility. The wind was south, south-westerly, Force 7-8. The high tide had just passed at 1.57pm with a predicted height of 9.6 metres which, with the wind behind it, made an actual tide height of 10.2 metres.

ILB During the shout

RNLI/Chris Clouter

Barrow Inshore Lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham
ILB During the shout

RNLI/Chris Clouter

Barrow Inshore Lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham

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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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.