At 12:16 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following a call from a motor boat reporting that they had come across an elderly gentleman in a swamped Mirror Dinghy in the Carrick Roads. They had taken the dinghy in tow but were unable to get him onboard the motor boat due to the conditions and were concerned for his well being.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 12:21 and headed up the Carrick Roads locating the motor boat off Messack Buoy at 12:25. The occupant of the dinghy was transferred to the Inshore Lifeboat and it soon became apparent that he was suffering from mild hypothermia so the decision was made to take him ashore while the motor boat continued to tow the dinghy towards Mylor Harbour. An Ambulance was requested to meet the Inshore Lifeboat at Mylor Harbour where the casualty was landed at 12:36. Once the ambulance was on scene the Inshore Lifeboat headed back out into the Carrick Roads and took over the tow of the dinghy which was then taken back into Mylor Harbour and recovered by the Inshore Lifeboat crew onto the owner’s trailer. At 13:38 the Inshore Lifeboat was released to return to its station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 13:53 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 14:10.

The elderly gentleman had been out sailing the Mirror dinghy single handed and had been heading back up the Carrick Roads when it had capsized due to the deteriorating conditions. Although he had managed to right the dinghy it had become swamped and if it had not been for the prompt actions of the motor boat crew and the timely arrival of the Inshore Lifeboat the situation could have been much worse. The assistance of the staff of Mylor Sailing School on the shore was also gratefully appreciated.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service