At 23:46 Falmouth Coastguard requested that both Falmouth Inshore and All Weather Lifeboats be launched following a report from the police of a male entering the water at Bar Beach in the Helford River. The person had swum out into the river and had disappeared from sight. The Falmouth Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team, a Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, various Police units, and an Ambulance were also involved in the incident.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 23:52 and on entering the Helford River at 00:03 commenced a visual and thermal imaging search as it headed up river. On reaching Bar Beach further information was obtained from the Police and a search of the immediate area including yachts on their moorings was commenced. Once the All Weather Lifeboat arrived on scene at 00:18 it launched its Y-Boat Inflatable and both boats joined the search. The Inshore Lifeboat was then tasked to transfer a Police Dog and its handler from Helford Passage across the river to Helford Village to assist the search.

At 00:55 the crew of the All Weather Lifeboat spotted a person onboard a yacht moored off Penarvon Cove and immediately opened up a dialog with him while the Inshore Lifeboat was dispatched to Helford Passage to collect two policemen armed with taser stun guns. Shortly after this the man entered the water and swam to the lifeboat where he was assisted onboard. He was treated for the effects of the cold and given additional dry clothing before he and the police officers were taken back ashore in the Inshore Lifeboat, where he was checked over by paramedics before being taken into custody by the police. At 01:31 the Inshore Lifeboat was released to return to station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 01:51 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 02:10.

The person had originally entered the water to avoid being detained by the police following an incident at Helford Passage. Considering the sea temperature, width of the river, and the tidal flow it is amazing that he managed to reach the yacht and get onboard and ultimately he is very lucky to have survived.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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