Tangled kitesurfer and rig returned safely to shore by Exmouth RNLI volunteers
Exmouth RNLI’s volunteer crew responded to a call from H.M. Coastguard on Friday 21 March 2025 to aid a kitesurfer who had become tangled in a mooring. The charity’s Inshore lifeboat, George Bearman II, launched at 5.10pm arriving quickly on scene at a mooring in Shelly Gut.
In a full-circle moment, the 999 call to H.M. Coastguard had been made by Exmouth RNLI’s volunteer Coxswain, Steve Hockings-Thompson, whilst working in his day job as Exmouth’s Harbourmaster.
On arrival on scene at 5.15pm, the volunteer crew of three led by Helm, Roy Stott, along with crew members James Edge and Pete Woodham, found the rig of the kitesurfer tangled around the mooring. The kitesurfer was not with it. However, it was quickly ascertained that the kitesurfer had managed to self-rescue and was safely ashore, thanks to a telephone call that he made to the Coastguard to update them and alert them to the fact that the tangled rig was his.
In calm and clear conditions with a moderate breeze, the volunteer crew of the George Bearman II collected the kitesurfer from the shore and supported him to untangle the kit. Surfer and kit were both delivered safely back to shore before the crew returned to the station at 5.30pm.
Rick Newcombe, Launch Authority for Exmouth RNLI’s lifeboat, said ‘This was a well-equipped, competent surfer who just got caught out this time. He effectively managed a self-rescue but was just unable to untangle his kit on his own. It was great to be able to help him out with that.’
On arriving back at the station, the George Bearman II was washed down and re-fuelled, ready for the next shout.
Notes to editors
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Photograph courtesy of Exmouth RNLI
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Kitesurfing safety advice can be found at https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/kitesurfing
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Water based activity safety advice can be found at https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact
Dawn Robinson, Exmouth RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07565 424093 or [email protected]
or
Emma Haines, Regional Media Officer on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or
contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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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