At 17:42 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following a 999 call reporting two youths cut off by the tide on the cliffs between Gyllyngvase and Swanpool. Two other youths had managed to reach safety and raised the alarm. Falmouth Coastguard Mobile and Cliff Rescue Team were also tasked to assist.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 17:48 and having rounded Pendennis Point encountered a heavy southeasterly swell running in Falmouth Bay. Once on scene at 17:55 the inshore lifeboat crew used their thermal imaging camera to locate the four youths, two of whom were clearly trapped on separate promontories at the base of the 60ft cliffs. Having assessed the situation and the risks involved with trying to evacuate the casualties by boat with the 4-5ft swell it was decided that the inshore lifeboat should stand off and illuminate the scene while the coastguard cliff team attempted to effect a rescue from above.

By 18:35 the coastguard team had recovered the first casualty to the top of the cliff but would then have had to reposition their equipment to recover the second casualty. As the waves were by then reaching the casualties feet it was decided to request the assistance of a Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose which was already airborne and returning from a rescue in Brixham Coastguards patch. The helicopter arrived on scene at 18:45 and by 18:55 had successfully recovered the second casualty, before dropping him off at the Swanpool Beach car park. By 19:01 everyone was confirmed to have been safely recovered and the Inshore Lifeboat was released to return to station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 19:15 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 19:30.

The youths had been exploring the coast between Gyllyngvase and Swanpool when they had been caught out by the rising tide, so they wisely raised the alarm and awaited rescue. All the rescue services worked together superbly in what proved to be a difficult and challenging rescue.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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