The grateful dad called the RNLI response “nothing short of lifesaving”
The volunteer RNLI crew that assisted the paddleboarders on Saturday(Image: Submitted)
Bridlington RNLI showed what being a volunteer is all about when a call came in during the station’s open day to assist two paddle boarders who had been blown out to sea. Volunteers launched on Saturday 25 July during the open day to assist the two paddle boarders who had been reported as being in difficulty off Fraisthorpe beach.
A father and daughter experienced strong winds while on their paddleboards and the grateful dad called the RNLI response “nothing short of lifesaving”, and said: “Without them, we genuinely believe we may not have made it home.”
The volunteer crew were tasked at 11.36am and the station’s D class Inshore Lifeboat ‘ Ernie Wellings’ launched at 11.43am shortly after the Open Day celebrations had begun. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 11.55am, where the pair were found by the RNLI volunteers who provided precautionary casualty care to the female. The father and daughter were safely returned to the beach at Fraisthorpe and handed over to the awaiting HM Coastguards.
Once safely handed over, the RNLI volunteer crew of the Inshore Lifeboat was stood down and returned to the beach at 12.14pm,and the boat was recovered and returned to service at 12.30pm.
Bridlington RNLI volunteer Sarah Berrey said: “We were pleased to quickly locate the father and daughter and ensure they were both brought safely back to shore. The female casualty required some casualty care from our volunteer crew, and we were glad we were able to assist. Despite it being our open day, our volunteers are always ready to respond when the pager sounds. We hope everyone involved is safe and well and able to enjoy the rest of their day.”
The adult casualty, Gareth, who was rescued, said: “My daughter and I found ourselves in serious trouble while paddle boarding off Fraisthorpe Beach, after strong winds pushed us further out to sea. Despite our efforts, we could not make it back to shore. Thankfully, the RNLI and Coastguard were called, and their response was nothing short of lifesaving.
“The RNLI crew reached us quickly and brought my daughter safely aboard first, then rescued me moments later. Their calm professionalism, reassurance and care turned a terrifying situation into one with a happy ending. We will be forever grateful to the RNLI, Coastguard and everyone involved. Without them, we genuinely believe we may not have made it home.”
The volunteer crew downed tools at the open day when called by HM Coastguard, demonstrating the RNLI’s commitment to saving lives at sea whenever needed. Bridlington RNLI is reminding all paddleboarders to take simple precautions before heading onto the water. Always wear a suitable buoyancy aid or personal flotation device, carry a means of calling for help in a waterproof pouch, check the weather and sea conditions before setting off, and avoid going out alone where possible. Bridlington RNLI confirmed that both paddleboarders were wearing the correct safety equipment at the time of the incident.
If you get into difficulty in the water, remember to Float to Live – tilt your head back, relax, and control your breathing while floating on your back. If you see someone in trouble at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
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