At 00:57 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following a number of 999 calls reporting persons in the water from a possible collision between Flushing and Greenbank. Falmouth Coastguard Mobile, Police, Ambulance and a Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose were also tasked although the helicopter was stood down before it could get airborne.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 01:03 and arrived on scene off Greenbank at 01:06. A search was commenced using two searchlights and a white parachute flare, which was fired to illuminate the area. Shouts were then heard and the engines were stopped and helmets removed to aid hearing, the sound being confirmed as coming from the shore upstream of Greenbank. The inshore lifeboat was taken into the moorings and its engines stopped again and this time the crew clearly heard the instruction up stream being shouted. The engines were restarted and the inshore lifeboat headed out of the moorings and on up the main channel.

At 01:08 two persons were spotted in the water near the fourth port hand channel marker, both were obviously struggling, one had his hand on the buoy and the other one was fighting to keep his head above water. Neither men had lifejackets on and it was later found that one could not swim. The first casualty was picked up on the starboard side and the two crew manage to pull him onboard despite his water-laden clothes, the inshore lifeboat being gently manoeuvred towards the second casualty. One crewman then grabbed hold of second casualty who was just managing to cling to edge of buoy with his fingertips. The second crewman then assisted in getting this casualty onboard, which was not made any easier by the fact he refused to let go of the buoy. The crew checked the casualties over and were able to confirm that no one else was involved and that they had been onboard a rigid inflatable when the incident had occurred. In view of the nature of the incident, the amount of time they had been in the water, and their condition an ambulance was requested to meet the inshore lifeboat back at its station.

As the inshore lifeboat left the scene at 01:10 they spotted that the rigid Inflatable had fetched up against the bow of a moored yacht on the starboard side of the channel and was causing it to rotate erratically. By 01:14 both casualties had been landed at the lifeboat pontoon into the care of the station personnel and the inshore lifeboat headed back up the harbour to the scene as they were concerned for the state of the rigid inflatable, the yacht it collided with, and members of the public who might try to get onboard to stop the boats engine.

Once back on scene at 01:19 a quick assessment was made and it was clear that the rigid inflatable was embedded into the yacht and the strain on the mooring was so excessive that it could fail at any time. Standing off the two vessels the lifeboat attempted to foul the boats propeller with the lifeboats mooring ropes, being successful at the second attempt. By 01:22 the inshore lifeboat was alongside the yacht and the crew were able to confirm no one was onboard, but that it was taking on water and in danger of sinking so the volunteer lifeboat crew, in an effort to try to save her, decided to attempt to free her from her mooring and tow her onto a slipway close by. However, it was found that there was far too much tension on the yachts mooring from the rotations. Attempting to use the bolt cutters to free her it was observed that she was settling quickly in the water, and in the interests of safety the helmsman recalled his crew and they stood off. By 01:33 the yacht had settled on the bottom with about a metre of water over her deck with the rigid inflatable still embedded in her starboard side.

After collecting debris and checking other boats in the vicinity for damage as it was thought the rigid inflatable might have collided with other vessels nearby, at 02:02 the lifeboat was released to return to station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 02:14 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 02:40.

Both casualties are very lucky to be alive. It was thanks to the speedy launch, the lifeboat being on scene only nine minutes after the crews pagers were activated, together with the skill and endeavour of the lifeboat crew, plus the guidance from the unknown person onshore that this incident did not end with fatal consequences. It is very unlikely that either of the casualties could have survived in the water for much longer.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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