Exmouth lifeboat called back to work after months of maintenance
The RNLI volunteers were on board the R&J Welburn
Last updated 21st Mar 2025
A lifeboat in Devon has been put back to work - not long after coming back from months of maintenance.
They were called by HM Coastguard help in their search for a missing kayaker off the Dorset coast.
The staff at RNLI in Exmouth said: "Volunteers from the Exmouth RNLI lifeboat crew made their way early today on a 6.5 hour return passage to the RNLI lifeboat centre in Poole to collect our Shannon All-Weather lifeboat, 13-03 R&J Welburn, and return our relief Fleet boat, 13-32 David & Ruth Arthur.
"The R&J Welburn has been away for a number of months for scheduled maintenance and it wasn’t long after collecting her that she was put back to work, when shortly after departing Poole Harbour H.M Coastguard requested that we assist volunteer lifeboat colleagues from Poole Lifeboat station in a search for a missing kayaker.
"Luckily the missing kayaker was quickly located and taken to safety by the Poole lifeboat volunteers. They were cold and wet from their ordeal, but otherwise unharmed, and we wish them a rapid recovery.
"The Exmouth RNLI volunteers were therefore stood down and continued with their passage back to Exmouth, arriving today just after 17.30.
"The R&J Welburn will head off again in the summer to have the names of many people’s loved ones added to her hull and roof as part of the Launch a Memory programme, but until then it is just great to have her back and ready again to save lives at sea."