Sennen Cove RNLI Volunteers launch to kayakers in difficulties.
Our RNLI volunteers were tasked by HM Coastguard Falmouth at 11.47am on Thursday 14 August following a call for help from six kayakers off Lands End.
The Kayakers, three adults and three children, had left Sennen Cove and were heading for Porthcurno. They were all equipped with buoyancy aids and had received guidance regarding their passage to Porthcurno.
Although conditions were fine in Sennen Cove the strong tidal conditions were very poor off Lands End, where an issue arose with one of the kayaks causing it to capsize leaving two children in the water.
The kayakers had mobile phones and other safety equipment so were able to call HM Coastguard Falmouth to inform them of their situation. Members of the public, on the cliffs above, also saw their predicament and called the Coastguard who issued a Mayday and tasked our RNLI volunteers.
The Tamar class all-weather lifeboat ‘City of London III’ launched just seven minutes after the pagers sounded under the command of Coxswain Nick Hichens with a total of five crew and made their best speed to the area.
Due to the strong tidal current taking the kayakers out to sea, the lifeboat located the casualties a mile south of Longships lighthouse. The children had been recovered back onto a kayak but one adult remained in the water when the lifeboat crew arrived.
RNLI volunteers quickly recovered each of the casualties and their kayaks. All the casualties were wet, cold, shocked, and very relieved to be aboard the lifeboat.
The RNLI volunteers and casualties returned to Sennen Cove, where the lifeboat was recovered up the long slip at 12.43pm and made ready for her next service.
Coxswain Nick Hichens said;
‘The Kayakers did everything right on the day but were still unfortunate to get caught out by the strong tidal flow. They were well equipped and able to make a call to the coastguard when help was needed. They stayed incredibly calm in a very stressful situation.
Our volunteer crew worked extremely well as a team to carry out a quick rescue. Its times like this when our constant training proves its worth.’
Ends
•If you get into difficulty in the water, #FloatToLive .
.
Calling for help
• Carry a means of calling for help and keep it
on you at all times.
Weather and tides
• Check the forecast and tide times.
In case of emergency
• If you find yourself in danger in the water, float to
live.
• If you see someone in trouble at the coast, call 999
or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
Find out more at RNLI.org/safety
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For more information, please telephone Tim Stevens, Lifeboat Press Officer on 07971518403 or [email protected] or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]; or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected] or the RNLI Duty Press Office on 01202 336789.
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Key facts about the RNLI
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 more than 146,000 lives.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.