At 21:16 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat be launched following a 999 call reporting a small boat with possibly two people onboard hitting the reef off Gyllyngvase Beach. At 21:22 it was also decided to launch the Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat, as it could not be confirmed if anyone had entered the water. The Falmouth Coastguard Mobile and search team were also tasked.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 21:26 and arrived on scene off Gyllyngvase Beach at 21:30. An initial search of the immediate area was carried out using white parachute flares, night sight equipment and the lifeboats thermal imaging camera. Once the All Weather Lifeboat arrived on scene at 21:37 the search was expanded to cover the area from Pendennis Point to Maenporth with the Inshore Lifeboat covering the coastline while the All Weather Lifeboat searched further out into the bay. At 21:45 a Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also tasked to assist with the search.

By 22:20 the area had been extensively searched and the only vessel located was a small fishing boat, which had been in the area laying its nets. At 22:29 the coastguard decided that the search should be called off and all units were released to return to station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 22:44 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 23:04.

The first informant had remained on scene and had given a clear description of what he had observed. It is believed that the vessel that hit the rocks was either the small fishing boat that was located by the All Weather Lifeboat but had been adamant that they had not been that close in, or it was another unknown boat, which had continued on its passage and left the area.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service