Looe RNLI warning after two callouts to paddleboarders in one day
They're warning people to be vigilant off the coast after two separate incidents
Paddleboarders were caught out by the strong offshore winds yesterday with Looe RNLI volunteers launching to two separate incidents.
Both casualties were picked up and returned safely to shore.
Deputy Launch Authority Brian Bowdler’s pager first sounded at 1.06 pm, after Falmouth MRCC received reports of a paddleboarder waving to attract attention off Millendreath.
Shortly afterwards the Charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II arrived on scene to find an exhausted paddleboarder being assisted by a passing kayaker.
The paddleboarder who was not wearing a buoyancy aid or carrying any method of calling for help was unable to make any headway against the offshore winds back to the beach and found himself getting tired.
Thanking the kayaker for their assistance, crews bought the grateful paddleboarder and his board into the lifeboat, and returned him safely to his family waiting on Millendreath beach.
A volunteer's pager sounded for the second time at 5.36 pm.
Within three minutes the D Class was launched to go to the assistance of a female paddleboarder reported to be in difficulties off Looe beach.
Falmouth MRCC alerted to keep a lookout for a swimmer who was reported to be swimming out to assist the paddleboarder.
Quickly arriving on scene they found the paddleboarder’s 2-piece paddle had broken and she was unable to return to the beach.
The crew took the paddleboarder and swimmer onto the D Class and returned them safely back to the beach with the paddleboard.
The swimmer commented that even though he was an open water swimmer, he was finding it difficult to swim against the wind.
The RNLI said “Both paddleboarders had said they struggled to make any headway back to a beach in the strong offshore winds, which is a timely reminder to check the wind strength and direction before setting off, and think about your ability to paddle in these conditions. Always check the tide times, wear a suitable buoyancy aid and carry a means of calling for help. The paddleboarders were lucky that they were spotted from the shore and the first informants called 999 to alert the coastguards."