A prompt launch on service followed after reports of a 29ft yacht in a position of 2 nautical miles South of Lizard Point with a fire on board. With two persons on board the yacht, the skipper had been unable to extinguish the fire himself and called for immediate help via the coastguard.
RNLB Rose under the command of Relief Coxswain Andrew Putt made her way to the given location and the crew soon had the stricken vessel in sight, having also just received confirmation from the coastguard that the two casualties had abandoned the yacht and had taken to their inflatable dingy. The dingy was approximately 200 yards from the yacht and the lifeboat safely recovered the casualties from it and brought them on to the lifeboat. Immediate casualty care was administered to both. The dingy was also recovered on to the lifeboat and whilst the yacht's casualties were being assessed a visual assessment of the vessel was carried out from a distance to ascertain if there were any signs of smoke and/or flames. Thankfully neither were detected but a strong aroma of burnt electrics could be smelt.
On completion of the casualty care given by our crew, the decision was taken to return the yacht's occupants back to the lifeboat station for further medical monitoring. The two casualties were landed at the station at 9.25pm and were taken in to the care of our station personnel. In view of the yacht being left and drifting RNLB Rose returned to the scene to carry out another assessment of the vessel in the hope of being able to bring it to a safer area. Once the lifeboat was alongside another full, careful and thorough assessment (of the yacht) was carried out before it was thought safe to place 2 lifeboat crew members on board to have a closer look and inspection of the damage. When it was confirmed that the fire was definitely extinguished and as the vessel would become a hazard to other shipping with no lights showing, the decision was made to tow the vessel to the Helford.
The yacht was taken under tow at 9.45pm and upon arrival was secured on an empty visitor mooring by 12.16am. RNLB Rose was then able to depart the Helford and return to her station at Kilcobben Cove arriving there at 1.16am this morning where she was rehoused, refuelled and made ready for service again when required.
Casualty care had continued at the lifeboat station for the yacht's two occupants and after a lengthy call to NHS111 it was felt that the ambulance service should attend, thankfully both were thoroughly checked and deemed to be in good health by the ambulance crew.
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
