Paddleboarder Saved Nearly 3km from Land

UK Coastguard requested assistance around 10am following a report of two paddleboarders in difficulty. The lifeboat launched, arriving on scene around 15 minutes later. One of the two paddleboarders was just at the shoreline but a second was still in difficulty having been blown offshore into the Firth of Forth by the strong southerly wind.

Helm, Neil Chalmers said, ‘We arrived to find one paddleboarder making it to safety of the beach but one was still unaccounted for. Fortunately, the first informant had managed to keep eyes-on the casualty and stay on the phone to the coastguard. They were able to guide us to the second casualty who we soon located 1.6 nautical miles (2.9km) offshore.

‘The male casualty was very cold but had managed to stay on his board whilst the wind blew him further offshore into increasing wave heights. We got him onto the lifeboat and took him back to Portobello beach where coastguard rescue teams from Fisherrow and Queensferry were waiting.

‘The man was very lucky to have had someone onshore who kept him in sight and was able to guide the lifeboat to locate him.

‘We would always recommend that you check the weather prior to going paddleboarding, particularly on the sea. A buoyancy aid and means of calling for help are also essential. There is further information available on the RNLI website.’

If you see anyone in trouble on the coast call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. UK Coastguard has a range of resources they can call on, including RNLI lifeboats.

Notes to editors

• Kinghorn lifeboat station has been operating since 1965. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/kinghorn
• A video of an Atlantic 85 lifeboat can be viewed at http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/press_centre/videos/video_detail?articleid=321844&category=&region=&listing
• A video of the call will be available soon

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Neil Chalmers, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07767 380274

Natasha Bennett, Regional Communications Manager on 07826 900639 or [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, Regional Communications Lead on 07920 365929 or [email protected]

Tom McGuire, Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland on [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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