Lyme Regis RNLI search for possible paddle board casualty near Golden Cap

The Lyme Regis crew launched at 2:46pm in response to a request from HM Coastguard. The volunteers were tasked to conduct a shoreline search between Golden Cap and Seatown to locate the paddle board and any persons associated with it. The alert was raised by a member of the public who reported seeing a blue paddle board floating unattended in the area and was concerned about the safety of its owner.

In good weather with slight sea state, the lifeboat crew were quickly on scene and commenced their search at 2:51pm. Whilst no blue paddle board was found the crew did identify a blue beach towel on rocks which, from a distance, resembled the shape of a paddle board. Once they confirmed there was no one was in danger the lifeboat crew was stood down by the Coastguard.

The RNLI crew returned to Lyme Regis harbour at 3:30pm when their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne was washed down and refuelled by volunteer shore crew in preparation for its next service call.

In charge of the search was volunteer Helm Jon Broome who said: ‘This shout proved to be a false alarm with good intent. From a distance we could see how the blue beach towel could be mistaken for a paddle board. The three people with the towel were all safe and well. We would rather be called out and find everyone safe than not be called at all. The member of the public who dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard did exactly the right thing.’

This was the seventh service call for the volunteers of Lyme Regis RNLI this year.

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Notes to editors

Photo caption: Lyme Regis RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat ‘Spirit of Loch Fyne’ at sea. Credit: RNLI/Nick Marks

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Nick Marks, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station on 07568 187582 or [email protected]. or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected], or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.