At 16:27 Falmouth Coastguard requested that the Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following various calls reporting a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) on the rocks below the cliffs between Swanpool Beach and Pennance Point. The Falmouth Coastguard Mobile and Cliff Team were also tasked to assist.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 16:33 arriving on scene at 16:39. The 6.5m RIB could be seen with its three occupants on a small section of beach under the cliffs, in an area that is not accessible on foot at that state of tide. A lifeboat crewman swam ashore with a handheld radio to assess the situation and to confirm that no medical assistance was required.

With a rapidly falling tide it was decided that it would not be safe to try and refloat the RIB, and the safest option was to evacuate the three casualties up the cliff itself. While the Coastguard Cliff Rescue team set up their cliff gear the lifeboatman helped to secure the RIB, deploying an anchor to seaward, and removing any valuable equipment.

By 17:03 two coastguards had been lowered down the cliff face and preparations were made to recover the casualties. At 17:35 the crewman was recovered to the inshore lifeboat, which then stood by offshore until the casualties and coastguards had been recovered to the top of the cliff.

At 18:10 just as this the last coastguard was being recovered, Falmouth Coastguard requested that the Inshore Lifeboat proceed to the assistance of a 36ft Motor Boat which had suffered engine failure in Falmouth Bay. (See separate Service Report)

The 6.5m RIB had ended up on the rocks after its steering had failed. Its occupants had been unable to rig a temporary repair and had not thought of asking for assistance until they had found themselves on the beach. Two of the five people onboard had then swam around to Swanpool Beach leaving the other three trapped with their boat. The RIB was recovered on the next high tide.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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