At 13:08 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following reports of a boat and five youths in difficulty between Greenbank and the Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouths Inner Harbour. The Falmouth Coastguard Mobile was also tasked to assist.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 13:14 arriving on scene off the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club at 13:17. Initially there was no sign of the boat or the youths but as the search was extended the craft was located tied up to the Prince of Wales Pier. Further investigations by the crew of the lifeboat and the auxiliary coastguards found that the youths had left the scene in a hurry, a fact, which was later, confirmed by local police units who identified and later interviewed those involved concerning their actions.

The boat, which was called Bluebell, was towed to the lifeboat station where its outboard engine was removed and taken away by the police so further enquiries to be made as all its serial numbers had clearly been removed.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 13:55 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 14:17.

The boat was less than 10ft in length, had no safety equipment onboard, and clearly with five youths onboard had been grossly overloaded. It is believed that its engine had broken down and they had then tried to row ashore ending up at the pier.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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