At 00:03 Falmouth Coastguard requested that the Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following a concerns being raised for two persons and a dog overdue in a 9ft inflatable on the River Fal. The Falmouth Coastguard Mobile and Police units were also tasked to assist.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 00:08 and proceeded up the Carrick Roads to Turnaware Bar where the search commenced at 00:16. Contact was made with a group of fishermen on Turnaware who confirmed they had not seen the missing persons. The search continued up river towards the King Harry Ferry including an initial check of Channals and Tolcarne Creeks.

At 00:45 the Inshore Lifeboat reached the Feock side of the ferry crossing where they met up with the Coastguard, Police and the first informants. They confirmed that the pair had last been seen heading down river towards Turnaware at 4pm and had made contact on their mobile at 7pm when they had given an explanation of where they were. From the description given, the helmsman of the inshore lifeboat thought that this might be an area tucked away in Tolcarne Creek, so before continuing up river the inshore lifeboat returned to check this area out.

In the meantime it was decided in view of the considerable time since they had last been sighted that the search should be extended so Falmouths All Weather Lifeboat was tasked along with full search teams from both the Falmouth and Portscatho Coastguard Cliff Rescue units.

At 01:05 the inshore lifeboat was able to confirm that they had located the casualties safe and well, and the additional units were no longer required. Although the pair had safely set up camp it was agreed that in view of the extremely cold conditions and their families concerns that they should be taken back to the King Harry Ferry landing. The two casualties, their dog, camping equipment and inflatable dinghy were loaded onto the inshore lifeboat and taken back up river, where at 01:40 they were handed into the care of the Coastguard and Police before being reunited with their families.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 01:55 where it was refuelled, and was ready for service by 02:10.

Although the two lads had not done anything wrong, they were certainly made aware of the risks they had been taking on the river at night with no safety equipment and limited means of propulsion.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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