Looe RNLI volunteers rescue three people
It happened last night
Looe RNLI volunteer crews have rescued three people from Downend Point, Polperro, after their kayak started sinking. The casualties were found on rocks, cold and wet and were taken back to Polperro harbour.
Yesterday evening, Thursday 25 July 2025, a group of three people were kayaking from Polperro around to Talland bay and back, when their kayak began to take on water and sink. The group were able to climb ashore on rocks at Downend Point. There is very poor network coverage in this area and even though they were carrying mobile phones they were unable to call 999 for help. One of the group made their way back to Talland, to call for help from shore.
At the same time, Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was receiving multiple 999 calls reporting shouts for help in the Talland bay area.
Several RNLI volunteer crew members were in the vicinity of the lifeboat station packing up their sailing dinghies and changing out of wetsuits after their Thursday evening race when launch pagers sounded at 7.50 pm.
Within three minutes, one of our quickest launches, crew had changed into their drysuits and lifejackets to launch the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II and made best speed towards Talland. Given that Falmouth MRCC had requested an immediate launch, as additional crew arrived at station, the launch authority decided to launch the Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II to provide additional support and a communications relay to Looe and Polruan Coastguard rescue teams who were also tasked to attend.
As the D Class approached Talland bay, the crew spotted a person waving on the beach and went over to investigate. The person told them he was with two others on a kayak when it started to take on water and sink, the other two had climbed onto rocks on Downend point towards Polperro and he had made his way back to the beach to call for assistance. With the first casualty on the D Class, the crew headed over to Downend Point. Two of the crew went onto the rocks to check on the other two casualties, finding them cold and wet, but uninjured. As the Atlantic 85 arrived on scene the casualties were taken onto the D Class wrapped in thermal blankets to be taken back to Polperro where they were staying. The Atlantic 85 crew followed with the kayak.
Commenting after the rescue, volunteer helm on the D Class, David Jackman, said: "This was not the first time we have been called to an incident around Downend Point where there has been no mobile phone coverage.
"Even though the group were well prepared, carrying additional methods of calling for help such as a personal locater beacon (PLB) or VHF radio would have enabled them to call for help straight away.
While the cause of this water ingress was unclear, it’s always a good idea to check your kayak or vessel before heading out, making sure hatch covers are closed and drainage bungs are seated correctly and not perished."