At 15:33 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following a report from two people walking near Trelissick House of a boat adrift at Turnaware Bar in the River Fal.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 15:39 and while heading up the Carrick Roads was advised that the first informant had rung back to report a person in the water nearby. The Inshore Lifeboat arrived on scene at 15:46 and located the man who was unable to help himself in the water close to the shore. Two lifeboat crew entered the water and with the help of the first informants managed to drag the casualty onto the rocks where immediate first aid was given.

It soon became apparent that the casualty was in a very poor condition, and it was decided to transfer him to the Inshore Lifeboat and to take him out into open water to speed up his transfer by helicopter to hospital. By 15:58 the casualty had been winched into the helicopter and was on his way to Treliske Hospital. The Inshore Lifeboat then returned to the initial scene to thank the first informants and to recover the fisherman’s oyster punt which was towed up to the King Harry Pontoon where it was safely moored at 16:39, the Inshore Lifeboat then being released to return to station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 17:00 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 17:25.

How the occupant of the oyster punt ended up in the water is still uncertain, but the actions of the walkers and the lifeboat crew certainly saved this persons life. It should also be noted that the transfer of the casualty to the helicopter was made in under a minute, and is a testament to the skills of the crews of both the lifeboat and helicopter who train regularly together for just such a situation.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service