Looe RNLI volunteers rescue three persons shouting for help

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) were receiving multiple 999 calls reporting shouts for help in the Talland bay area.

Many of our RNLI volunteer crew 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 our 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 our 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 our crew headed over to Downend Point. Two of our 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 following with the kayak.

Commenting after the rescue, our volunteer helm on the D Class, David Jackman said ‘that 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. David went on to say that 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

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith II returning from Talland
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Stock image Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II heading out into Looe bay
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Recovering Looe RNLI D Class Ollie Naismith II after returning from Talland
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Information:

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

Media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

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.