North Berwick RNLI launch three times in 6 days as weather warms

The first call out came on Sunday 17 May at 7.16pm after a personal water craft broke just outside the fairway in North Berwick. The casualty on the craft had all the correct equipment including a buoyancy aid, handheld VHF radio, paddle and anchor which they had deployed as the wind was blowing them offshore.

After a brief assessment the vessel was taken under tow back to shore, where debris in the fuel was found to be the cause of the engine failure.

The second call came on Friday (22 May) at 6.16pm when Aberdeen Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call from a kayaker in the water after their kayak had sunk underneath them leaving them in the water.

Multiple vessels responded to a Mayday call put out by HM Coastguard, including a passing yacht that recovered the casualty from the water shortly before the lifeboat arrived on scene.

The casualty was taken on board the lifeboat and assessed before being returned to shore with their craft. The casualty was wearing a buoyancy aid and had a waterproofed means of calling for help which enabled a positive outcome from this service.

The third call occurred almost 24 hours later on Saturday (23 May) at 6.47pm after multiple members of the public witnessed a stand up paddleboarder being blown out to sea in the offshore wind.

A thorough search of a large area offshore from North Berwick was conducted alongside Anstruther RNLI’s all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, the Robert and Catherine Steen. After four hours on the water the search was suspended as night had fallen and nothing had been found.

North Berwick’s volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, Ricky Martin, said: ‘When the weather forecast is for good weather we always, understandably, see an increase in leisure traffic on the water.’

‘Anyone who is heading out to sea, for a swim or sail or to fish from a kayak must ensure they have a lifejacket or buoyancy aid and that they carry a waterproofed means of calling for help.’

‘Check the weather, wind direction and tide times to make sure the conditions are suitable for your plan, if in doubt, don’t go out. Stand up paddleboarders especially should avoid offshore winds which they are particularly vulnerable to.’

‘If you’re heading out on a power drive craft, check your engine is serviceable your fuel is fresh and charge your batteries.’

‘In any coastal emergency dial 999 for the Coastguard or call them on VHF channel 16.’

More information on how to stay safe for your activity can be found here

Notes to editors

• It cost £1,360 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help
• Across the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, RNLI lifeboat crews based out of 238 lifeboat stations helped 8,290 people and saved 272 lives as the charity’s lifeboats launched more than 9,000 times in 2025, making it the sixth-busiest year in the charity’s history. More here

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Matthew Gibbons, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [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.

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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.