Amble lifeboats called to help kayakers in difficulty
Lifeboat crew were called into action to assist kayakers in difficulty off the Northumberland coast.
Amble’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched on November 17 after kayakers capsized at the north end of Coquet Island.
Both boats arrived on scene at the north end of Coquet Island where the conditions were poor with a two-metre swell and a northerly wind. There was no sign of the kayakers, so both boats searched the island’s coast before spotting a kayaker with his paddle raised at the south east of the island.
When both boats arrived there was a person in the water, who the ILB quickly pulled to safety and transferred him onto the ALB. Another Mayday was received and a second casualty was found and transferred to the ALB.
The lifeboats then caught up with the rest of the group only to be advised that there was a further kayaker still missing. They quickly returned to the area to carry out a search when the ILB crew spotted the missing kayaker close to the shore. He was taken onto the lifeboat before being transferred onto the ALB.
The ILB then headed back to the four kayakers to make sure they were safe and proceeded to escort them back to the safety of Amble harbour. While on their way back to the harbour, another kayaker capsized and was recovered into the ILB.
Amble RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat operations manager, John Wingfield said: “The lifeboat crew managed the situation to the highest standards of skill and professionalism.
“Our volunteer crews train for a range of scenarios, including vessel mechanical failures and incidents such as these ones.”