Two shouts to paddleboarders in two days for Looe RNLI volunteers

The first incident came in on Thursday 30 July when crew launch pagers sounded at 3.22 pm after Falmouth Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call expressing concern for 2 paddleboarders, some 500 yards off Hannafore Point, one had fallen off, and appeared to be in difficulties. Within seven minutes our RNLI volunteer crew had launched the charity's D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II to investigate. Out in the bay our crews located two different groups of paddleboarders, all of whom were safe, enjoying the afternoon.

Reporting this back to Falmouth MRCC our crews were stood down to return to station.

Back on shore our volunteer crews commented that the first informant did the right thing in contacting the coastguards with their concerns. Whilst this was a false alarm with good intent our crews would always prefer to launch to find no one in difficulties, than not to launch to later learn somebody needed assistance.

The following afternoon, Friday 31 July 2026, crew launch pagers sounded again at 4.12 pm after the RNLI lifeguards patrolling Seaton saw a paddleboarder being blown out to sea by strong offshore winds. Concerned the paddleboarder would be blown too far offshore for a lifeguard to reach them, a request for assistance from Looe’s inshore lifeboat was made to Falmouth MRCC. Quickly launching the charity’s relief Atlantic 85 Spirit of Cooperation, our volunteer crews arrived on scene to find the paddleboarder had made is back closer to shore and was being assisted by a lifeguard on a rescue board. Our crew waited until the pair were safely back on shore, before the lifeboat was stood down to return to station.

As our crew approached the harbour entrance they were alerted by shouts from members of the public on the Banjo Pier. The public were pointing to an exhausted swimmer who was clinging onto the side of the Pier. Our crew picked him up and took him back to the landing pontoon.

Back at the lifeboat station, Helm, Clive Palfrey commented on the great team work at Seaton with the Lifeguard team and how apt it was to have a joint incident on what is “Lifeguard Appreciation Day” and the RNLI celebrating 25 years of lifeguarding around the UK coastline and beaches. Clive went on the say “the swimmer was completely exhausted attempting to swim back to the beach against the outgoing tide, as tidal and river currents are always stronger around the pier and river mouth.”

This shout was a milestone for one of our former boat crew, James Chudleigh. James who now volunteers as shore crew, only last week qualified as a Launch Authority. Taking up the story, James, says “it was his second “duty” day as launch authority, it felt like his first day on the crew again, responding to a shout all those years ago, as he now found himself authorising the launch of the charity’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.”

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Launching the charity’s relief Atlantic 85, B-946, Spirit of Cooperation
Photo credits RNLI / Sheila Marrison

· Crew on the Atlantic 85, B-946, Spirit of Cooperation locating the exhausted swimmer
Photo credits RNLI / Sheila Marrison

· Crew on the Atlantic 85, B-946, Spirit of Cooperation locating the exhausted swimmer
Photo credits RNLI / SJM Drone Imaging

· James Chudleigh
Photo credits RNLI / Ian Foster

Paddleboard incidents

This is the third shout in a week for Looe RNLI volunteers to paddleboarders in difficulties and over the the last few weeks RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards around the coast have been called out to paddleboarders who have been caught out in these strong offshore winds.

The primary safety advice from the RNLI and Paddle UK is simple: never launch your paddleboard ( or other inflatable crafts) in offshore winds. Offshore winds (blowing from the land out to sea) can blow lightweight craft out to deep water faster than you can paddle, quickly exhausting you.

If you are out on the water and are unable to paddle back to shore, do not stand on the board, as this acts like a sail. Instead: drop to your knees or lie prone (stomach-down) on the board. If you have the energy, prone paddling is the most effective way to make progress against the wind. Lie on your stomach and paddle with your arms (like a surfer). This lowers your profile and reduces wind resistance. Remember to wear your buoyancy aid at all times, use a leash, and always carry a means of calling for help, keeping it close to hand.

In trouble call 999 and ask for the coastguard

Further safety advice can be found at

https://rnli.org/water-safety/choose-your-activity/stand-up-paddle-boarding

Information

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Ian Foster, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South West, [email protected]

Kyle Reed, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for South West England, 07786 668847 [email protected] 

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for South West England, 07920 818807, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.