Looe RNLI volunteers launch to assist paddleboarders in difficulties

The casualties were found to be safe onshore as the lifeboat arrived on scene. After a brief casualty care check confirmed all were OK the lifeboat was stood down to return to station

Yesterday morning, Saturday 11 July 2026, launch pagers sounded at 9.10 am after Falmouth Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC} received reports of paddleboarders in difficulties, with one child in the water, off Seaton beach. After making their way to the lifeboat station our RNLI volunteer crew launched the charity’s relief Atlantic 85 B-946 Spirit of Cooperation. Making their way across Looe bay our crew arrived on scene 8 minutes after launch, to find both casualties had been assisted ashore by members of the public who were on the beach.

Two crew members went ashore to check and conduct a brief casualty care assessment. Confirming both casualties were OK, our crew offered safety advice regarding risks from offshore winds, as the current Easterly winds at Seaton beach are offshore, i.e. blowing out to sea. Updating the coastguards, our crew on the beach returned to the Atlantic 85 and the inshore lifeboat headed back to Looe for recovery.

Seaton beach’s RNLI Lifeguard patrol is between 10am and 6pm, daily in the summer months, the RNLI advises that people should be mindful and take extra care being on the water whenever lifeguards are not on duty or a beach is not lifeguarded.

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Notes to editors

Photos:

· Stock image of the charity’s relief Atlantic 85, B-946, Spirit of Cooperation leaving Looe
Photo credits RNLI / Ian Foster

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 www.looelifeboats.co.uk

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

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Ian Foster, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station, [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.