Calling out the Lifeboat!

Nick Hearne · 28 October 2006, 11:53

Out for a walk with the family Tuesday after noon in Salcombe, just started from overbecks to go round to stare hole bay. Very large swell coming in over the bar with some waves braking! Could just make out through the trees a rib stationery in the water, the next thing a braking wave came over the back of it & it diapered!! Next thing we can see is 3 people in the water!
Call 999 & got through to Brigham coast guard & give all the details, asked me to keep them in visual contact. With in 5 mins to come the inshore life boat to pick them up, coast guard called me back to get a up date on the rescue & to confirm they are picking up the right rib. 3 people taken on board & took the rib in tow back for a slow ride back in to Salcombe!
All very exiting for the kids to see, but made me shiver!
I for one will keep supporting the RNLI !

http://www.salcombelifeboat.org.uk/h..._launches.html

Kernow Buoy · 28 October 2006, 12:19

Well done Nick!

I think you can award yourself a warm fuzzy feeling for the next couple of weeks.
It doesn't give any details of what kit etc. they were carrying/wearing but I think its safe to say they must have been in danger of losing their lives.
Course if ever you meet them you could start the conversation off with
"Now if you'd been in an Osprey"

Nick Hearne · 28 October 2006, 12:22

Hi, 2 had wetsuits on but no one had life jackets!
I think they had been wake boarding out beyond the bar.

codprawn · 28 October 2006, 12:47

Good for you - in the right place at the right time lucky for them. I reckon wetsuits would be far more useful than lifejackets though.

jyasaki · 29 October 2006, 06:05

Depending on the thickness of the wetsuits, I agree with Codprawn.

The 7mm suits we wear for diving (I say we as a collective term; I usually dive dry) provides almost as much buoyancy (if not more) as a lifejacket, and has the added advantage of offering some thermal protection. A wetsuit, however, will not keep your head above water, as a lifejacket is supposed to do.

Wakeboarders may use something thinner, which will provide less buoyancy, however. Again, I suppose it depends on the suit.

As an aside, we are still required to carry a PFD per person, whether in wetsuits or not (no requirement for adults to be wearing them. Yet.)

jky

Nick Hearne · 30 October 2006, 08:18

Yes a wetsuit is better than nothing, But I would still want t bouncy aide!

Cookee · 30 October 2006, 14:58

I think it was some friends of mine - he told me the engine stalled and they got rolled before they could restart the engine - no-one got hurt and the RIB is ok!

Nick Hearne · 30 October 2006, 16:09

That sounds right, glade they are all ok!

ribraff · 30 October 2006, 17:10

It was reported in the local rag too, people out water ski-ing. Cookee, it was'nt Derek was it?

Cookee · 30 October 2006, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribraff

It was reported in the local rag too, people out water ski-ing. Cookee, it was'nt Derek was it?

No it was Richard who owns a gym in Chillington and is now going to kill me!