Plymouth RNLI reaches 100th launch after busy three-day period

The first tasking came at 10am on Saturday 11th July, while Plymouth RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annabel E Jones was diverted from exercise by Falmouth Coastguard to investigate an empty aluminium boat lying at anchor off the Western Breakwater.

On arrival, the volunteer crew established that the occupants were diving nearby and were safe and well. With no assistance required, the lifeboat returned to exercise.

At 1:28pm, the inshore lifeboat was tasked to the Saltram area of the River Plym following reports of a casualty who had fallen from the path above onto the shoreline below. When the volunteer crew arrived, they found the casualty unconscious and receiving treatment from a South Western Ambulance Service paramedic.

Suspected spinal injuries meant the casualty required a carefully coordinated extraction. Working alongside South Western Ambulance Service, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team, the casualty was immobilised before being transferred aboard the lifeboat. A paramedic, firefighter and members of the casualty’s family also travelled aboard the ILB to a nearby landing point, where the casualty was carefully carried ashore and handed into the care of South Western Ambulance Service for onward hospital treatment.

Speaking after the incident ILB Helm James Scott said:

“We arrived on scene to find an unconscious casualty who had fallen from the path above onto a small rocky area that was rapidly disappearing beneath the rising tide. Given the casualty’s suspected injuries, evacuation by sea was the safest option. A rescue plan was quickly agreed with our emergency service colleagues already on scene."

“I’m incredibly proud of how our volunteer crew worked alongside our emergency service colleagues to carry out what was a complex rescue in challenging conditions.”

The third tasking came at 3:23pm on Sunday 12th July, when the inshore lifeboat was requested to assist a small yacht drifting close to the designated swimming area at Firestone Bay in the strong easterly winds. The unmanned yacht had drifted close to the shore. Our volunteer crew established a tow and moved the vessel away from the immediate danger area.

While dealing with the yacht, the inshore lifeboat was retasked by Falmouth Coastguard to launch immediately to an unwell swimmer on the swim pontoons at Plymouth Hoe. The yacht was temporarily secured before the crew proceeded to the medical incident.

At 4:24pm, the crew reached the swim pontoons, where the casualty had initially been reported as unconscious. The casualty was conscious when the lifeboat arrived and was transferred aboard the lifeboat and taken to Millbay Marina into the care of South Western Ambulance Service. Our volunteer crew then returned back to the yacht to resume the tow to the requested location.

At 8:46pm Falmouth Coastguard requested the immediate launch of the inshore lifeboat following reports of two paddleboarders in difficulty off Firestone Bay.

One paddleboarder had become separated from their board and was located in the tidal channel between Firestone Bay and Drake’s Island after spending approximately 20 minutes in the water. Wearing a personal flotation device, the casualty was recovered aboard the lifeboat where the volunteer crew carried out an initial casualty assessment.

The second paddleboarder had been recovered by the crew of the passenger ferry Tamar Belle along with the paddleboard. Both casualties were subsequently transferred to the lifeboat before being taken to Millbay Marina and handed into the care of South Western Ambulance Service for precautionary assessment.

ILB Helm Wesley Foster said: "Wearing a flotation device played an important role in keeping the casualty safe until we arrived. Incidents like this serve as an important reminder that even experienced paddleboarders can quickly find themselves in difficulty. Thanks to the swift response from all parties, including the crew of the Tamar Belle and Ministry of Defence Police."

The busy spell continued into Monday 13th July, with the inshore lifeboat launching three further times.

The first launch came at 9:24am, when Falmouth Coastguard requested the inshore lifeboat to assist a swimmer in Firestone Bay who was struggling to make progress against the strong tide. As the volunteer crew arrived on scene, they were stood down after it was confirmed the swimmer had made it safely ashore.

At 4:25pm, the pagers sounded again following reports of two teenagers in the water and another person struggling on a paddleboard in Jennycliff Bay. The inshore lifeboat quickly located the casualties and returned them safely to the beach.

The inshore lifeboat launched for a third time that day at 6:14pm to assist South Western Ambulance Service and Devon & Cornwall Police. The incident marked Plymouth RNLI’s 100th service launch of 2026, underlining what has already been an exceptionally busy year for the station’s volunteer crews.

The RNLI is urging people across the south coast to take extra care if visiting the beach during the hot weather.

Strong easterly winds, combined with large spring tides, are creating challenging sea conditions on many exposed south coast beaches. While these locations usually offer calm, sheltered bathing conditions, are currently experiencing large breaking waves, strong currents and unpredictable conditions in the water.

The strong winds are expected to continue for several more days, increasing the risk for anyone entering the sea.

✅ Choose a lifeguarded beach, patrolled from 10am to 6pm

✅ Check local conditions before you visit

✅ Follow the advice of RNLI lifeguards

✅ If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, FLOAT to Live

✅ If you see anyone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard

Notes to editors

Photos

• Plymouth RNLI volunteers recovering casualty from the water
  Photo Credit RNLI / Wesley Foster
• Extracting the casualty to the rendezvous point.
  Photo Credit RNLI / Wilfred Deacon
• Both Plymouth RNLI's Lifeboats in Millbay Marina
  Photo Credit RNLI / Darren Blight

Video
Plymouth RNLI volunteers launching to locate and recover paddleboarders.

Information

Plymouth is a busy station based in the Old Custom House at Millbay Marina Village. Plymouth RNLI Lifeboat Station has two lifeboats, an all-weather Severn class lifeboat Sybil Mullen Glover and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annabel E Jones.

To find out more about Plymouth RNLI Lifeboat Station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/plymouth-lifeboat-station

Plymouth RNLI Facebook page facebook.com/PlymouthRNLI

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Darren Blight, Lifeboat Press Officer, Plymouth Lifeboat Station on 07984 399860 or [email protected]

Katie O’Neill, Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Plymouth Lifeboat Station 07934 879703 or email [email protected]

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

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

RNLI Duty Press Office on 01202 336789 or [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.