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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: Mark Pollard (Coxswain), Peter Wood, Alan Rowe, Phil Rogers, John Lower, Luke Tudor, Andy Jenkin, Jonathon Hackwell, Toni Partridge
Location: Off Gyllyngvase Beach
Shout Date: 10/09/2006 (All day)
Weather:SE 4, Moderate Sea, Thick Fog

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At 13:50 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore and All Weather Lifeboats be launched following a report of a swimmer missing in the fog off Gyllyngvase Beach. The Falmouth Coastguard Mobile and Cliff Rescue Team were also tasked to assist, along with a Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 13:55, the All Weather Lifeboat leaving its berth shortly afterwards at 13:58. The Inshore Lifeboat made best possible speed around Pendennis Point despite the thick fog, arriving on scene off Gyllyngvase Beach at 14:06.

The RNLI Beach Lifeguard rescue boat had already carried out a search of the immediate area with no success so the Inshore Lifeboat commenced a parallel search from the shore out to sea. The All Weather lifeboat and Helicopter joined the search at 14:18, both having had to contend with extremely poor visibility on their respective journeys to the search area. The All Weather Lifeboat commenced a parallel search further to seaward while the helicopter concentrated on the coastline.

An extensive search of the area was carried out from sea, air and land, until at 14:58 the Coastguard were able to confirm that the missing swimmer had been located safe ashore, all units being released to return to station.

The swimmer who regally uses Gyllyngvase Beach had been politely advised by the lifeguards that the Red Flags were flying warning bathers not to enter the water because of the thick fog, which was reducing visibility to less than 50m. The swimmer ignored all the warnings and still entered the water disappearing into the fog. When he did not return the alarm was raised and a search began.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 15:20. The lifeboat was then refuelled, and was ready for service by 15:35.