Loch Ness RNLI tasked to rescue stranded kayakers
On Friday 20 June, Loch Ness RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was tasked to help three kayakers who had become stranded on the shores of Loch Ness.
The RNLI Loch Ness Sheila & Dennis Tongue IV lifeboat launched at 5.34pm with four volunteer crew members from the Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat Station and made its way towards three kayakers who had found themselves stranded around one nautical mile south of the Lochside Hostel at Alltsigh.
Kieron Tarling, volunteer helm for Loch Ness RNLI, said: ‘Due to strong winds and large waves, the kayakers found themselves stranded on the shore and unable to paddle back to the youth hostel. The casualties were unsure of their location and distance to the road, so we were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist. We quickly located the casualties, but due to the rocky shoreline and challenging weather conditions the lifeboat could not reach the shore and so a volunteer crew member was dropped as close as possible and waded ashore to assess their condition.
‘All of the casualties were safe and dry and had reached the shore in their kayaks without entering the water. The owner of the rented kayaks had also been called and had reached the scene from the road shortly after our arrival. As it transpired, the casualties were close enough to the road to be able to walk to the kayak owner’s vehicle who then transported them back to the youth hostel before later returning to collect the kayaks.
‘As soon as the casualties were in safe hands, our volunteer crew member was recovered back to the lifeboat, and we returned to the station. Conditions can change very quickly on Loch Ness, especially in strong winds, and we’re glad that the kayakers made it safely to shore before we reached the scene and that it was another positive outcome.’
Notes to editors
· Loch Ness lifeboat station has been operating since 2008. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: Loch Ness Lifeboat Station - RNLI Lifeboat Stations
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Lynsey Macready-Morgan, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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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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