Paddleboarder being blown offshore results in call out for Largs Lifeboat
Paddleboarder being blown offshore results in call out for Largs Lifeboat
Lifeboats News Release
Largs Volunteer Lifeboat crew were paged at approximately 6:30pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025, to assist a female paddleboarder who was being blown offshore and struggling against a moderate to strong Easterly wind.
On arriving at the lifeboat station, the volunteer crew were advised that a single female paddleboarder was being quickly blown offshore in the vicinity of Cairnies Quay small boat moorings.
Within minutes the crew had launched the stations Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat ‘R A Wilson’ and were making best speed to the location provided by a member of public who had called UK Coastguard via 999 advising them of the unfolding incident.
Due to the short distance to the casualty’s location the Lifeboat was soon on scene and brought the female onboard and it was decided that the best thing to do was return to the Lifeboat station where she could meet her friends.
Once back at the Lifeboat station and after being checked over it was found that the female involved was unharmed although very cold. Her friends had brought her dry clothing and after a warm drink and a final check over she left the Lifeboat station advising she was on her way back to her house.
Commenting on this evening’s rescue Volunteer Helm Michael Holcombe (Orric) said: Thankfully, the swift response by the member of public dialling 999 and alerting UK Coastguard of what was happening allowed a prompt response by the Emergency services. As the light was failing and the female did not have any way of communicating that she was in trouble this could have turned out to be a longer rescue. As the weather is starting to warm up people will start to enjoy watersports more, I would advise that anyone going out on a paddleboard always lets someone know where they are going and always carries a means of communication just in case you do get into difficulty.
RNLI media contacts
Brian Rankin, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07810862468, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin McNamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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.
