2 shouts in one evening for Looe RNLI

Yesterday evening, Saturday 31 May 2025, Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a 999 call expressing concern for 2 children on an inflatable being pushed by an adult in deep water by Looe Police Station. With launch pagers sounding at 7.13 pm our volunteer crews launched the D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II within seven minutes. Making their way upriver under the bridge, our crew found the group, with a kayak, safe ashore on the riverbank by the car park. Confirming they were not in any difficulties, our crew had a conversation with the group about the risks with swimming in the river and the lifeboat was stood down by the coastguards to return to station.

After washing down and refuelling the D Class ready for service our crew left the station around 7.45 pm only to be paged again an hour later at 8.57 pm. This time Falmouth MRCC requested the launch of the charity’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II to investigate a report of paddleboarders off Downderry who were waving their paddles ‘as in distress’. Sixteen volunteers responded to the launch page and our shore crew launched the Atlantic 85 within eight minutes. Arriving on scene our crew found two teenagers on a paddleboard a fair way out to sea, unable to return to shore in the fading light. As the pair were cold and wet, a decision was taken to take them back to the Lifeboat Station to warm up and await the arrival of their parents.

Even though the nature of these two incidents were different, our crews commented that the first informants did the right thing in contacting the coastguards on 999 to express their concerns. The prompt responses by our crew ensured these incidents were easily resolved before escalating into something more serious.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II at the landing pontoon after dropping off the casualties
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.

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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.