Dunbar lifeboat responds to paddleboarders blown off shore

The paddleboarders had gone afloat at the holiday park, nine miles east of Dunbar, but by 10.55am had been swept approximately 800m off shore by the strong westerly breeze.

After HM Coastguard paged for help, Dunbar’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat John Neville Taylor launched from Torness Power Station and was on scene at 11.30am, by which time both paddleboarders had managed to get themselves back to shore. Also in attendance were coastguard teams from Eyemouth and Dunbar and St Abbs Lifeboat.

After it was confirmed both paddleboarders were safe and well, all assets were stood down.

The RNLI’s advice for users of stand-up paddleboards (SUPs):

Check weather conditions, in particular wind speed and direction

Wear a buoyancy aid

Make sure you have a means of calling for help, like a mobile phone in an easily accessible waterproof pouch

Wear the correct leash – leg leashes are good for open sea or lake but quick-release waist belts are better for flowing tidal waters

Take a lesson before you go out on the water (Coast to Coast Surf School in Belhaven offer SUP lessons)

If you get in trouble on the water call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Notes to editors

· Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth.

· Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.

· It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.

· A file photo of Dunbar’s lifeboats can be viewed here.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Douglas Wight, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, douglas[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]

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.