At 13:50 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched after a member of the public made a 999 call to the Police reporting a punt capsized in the Penryn River. The person had seen the punt a few minutes earlier with a man and a dog in it saying it had looked overloaded. A Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and the Falmouth Coastguard Mobile were also tasked to assist.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 13:55 and arrived on scene off Waterside House in the Penryn River at 13:59. The Police were already on scene and directed the Inshore Lifeboat to the capsized punt which was about 100m off Penryn Town Quay, the punt being recovered from the water at 14:01. A search of the immediate area was commenced and shortly afterwards two paddles were also recovered from the water slightly further upstream. At 14:09 the police received information that the casualty was believed to have made it ashore but the search was continued until 14:15 when the son of the casualty confirmed he was safe and well and had gone home to get changed and warm up. The Inshore Lifeboat landed the punt and its oars at Waterside House before being released to return to station at 14:18.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 14:35 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 14:50.

It was later confirmed that the punt had capsized near the moored boats in the middle of the river throwing the casualty and his dog into the water. The casualty had then swum from boat to boat until he had reached the shore. It appears that the casualty had not been wearing a lifejacket and considering the water temperature is very lucky to have survived.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service