The ILB arrived on scene at 17.55 and with the aid of their recently acquired Thermal Imaging Cameras were quickly able to locate the people marooned on the cliffs. With a 2 metre swell running the lifeboatmen decided it was too dangerous to attempt to take them off the cliff face into the boat, so stood off and illuminated the scene for the Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team to effect a rescue from the top of the cliff. By this time two of the four people were able to scramble up the cliff and make their own way to safety. The Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team then rescued the third. As the rising tide was crashing around the ankles of the fourth member of the group it was decided to call on the services of the Royal Navy’s rescue helicopter to pluck this one to safety. All four were then re-united with their parents and friends in Swanpool car park.

Dave Nicoll, the Helmsman of the Falmouth volunteer inshore lifeboat said “This was a classic example of the close coordination between the Coastguard, the Royal Navy and the RNLI, being able to effect a successful rescue of four people from a potentially dangerous situation. The Thermal Imaging Cameras enabled us to locate these people very quickly on the cliffs and then we were able to guide the other rescue services on to their position, thereby effecting a speedy and safe rescue operation”

Notes to editors
• The crew of the RNLI Falmouth Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat for this service were: Dave Nicoll, (Helmsman), Oliver Lewis and Tom Bird.