Portpatrick RNLI rescues missing kayaker swept off the Mull of Galloway

Portpatrick RNLI's Shannon class all-weather lifeboat 13-25 Stella and Humfrey Berkley launched with a volunteer crew and made best speed to the scene.

While en-route, the crew received an update confirming that three of the kayakers had managed to reach the rocks at the Mull of Galloway, while one casualty remained missing at sea.

Using the prevailing conditions, together with the navigator's local knowledge of the area and tidal streams, the crew calculated the likely drift of the missing kayaker and identified a search area.

At 8.31am, the casualty was spotted approximately 2.5 miles off the Mull of Galloway. Although exhausted, the kayaker was recovered safely aboard the lifeboat.

At 9.28am, the casualty was transferred to the independent Port William Inshore Rescue Service (PIRSAC) inshore lifeboat crew, who had rescued the other three kayakers from the rocks. All four casualties were safely returned to East Tarbet Bay.

Coxswain Simon Bage said: 'The dense fog made this a particularly challenging search, but thanks to our navigator's local knowledge of the Mull of Galloway and understanding of the tidal streams, we were able to identify the most likely search area and locate the missing kayaker quickly.

‘This was an excellent example of the teamwork between Belfast Coastguard, PIRSAC and Portpatrick RNLI, and I'm incredibly proud of the professionalism and dedication shown by our volunteer crew.

'Their training, commitment and willingness to respond at any time of day or night are what enable us to save lives at sea.'

The volunteer crew washed down the lifeboat, refuelled it and made it ready for the next emergency.

If you see anyone in difficulty on the coast, call 999 and ask for HM Coastguard.

Notes to editors

Picture caption:

 Portpatrick RNLI's Shannon class all-weather lifeboat 13-25 returns to station following the successful rescue of four kayakers off the Mull of Galloway, with the recovered kayak on board.

 Portpatrick RNLI's Shannon class all-weather lifeboat 13-25 heads into East Tarbet Bay with the rescued kayaker and kayak safely on board.

• Portpatrick RNLI launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard at 7.39am.
• The missing kayaker was located approximately 2.5 miles off the Mull of Galloway after the crew calculated the likely drift using local knowledge and tidal conditions.
• Three other kayakers were rescued from the rocks by the PIRSAC inshore lifeboat crew.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Amanda Farley, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Portpatrick, [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

Suzanne O’Brien, RNLI Comms Placement for Scotland, 07483 494407, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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