Both Dunbar RNLI lifeboats launched to surfers in difficulty
RNLI Dunbar’s two lifeboats launched this afternoon (Sunday 10 March) following a report that five surfers were being swept out to sea at Belhaven Beach.
The alarm was raised at 2.35pm when a concerned member of the public spotted the surfers in difficulty near Belhaven Bridge. The D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) ‘David Lauder’ launched from Dunbar Harbour at 2.50pm and by the time the volunteer crew were on scene seven minutes later two of the surfers had made it ashore but three were stranded on Belhaven Bridge, which was cut off by the tide.
With a four-metre swell and breaking waves onto the bridge, the decision was made not to risk the crew’s safety, as mobile coastguard teams from Dunbar and North Berwick were on scene and able to carry out a water rescue from the shore.
The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) ‘John Neville Taylor’ launched from Torness Power Station at 3.05pm and arrived at Belhaven 15 minutes later. HM Coastguard requested both boats remain on standby, while an ambulance was called, as one of the surfers had suffered an asthma attack.
Using ropes, the coastguard teams began rescuing the remaining surfers from the bridge and by 3.55pm, when the last casualty was safely ashore, both boats had been stood down.
ILB helm Alan Blair said: ‘The caller did the right thing by alerting the coastguard but, given the conditions it was safer to rescue the surfers from the shore than risk the safety of the volunteers. Thankfully everybody made it to shore safely.’
If you see anything suspicious in or around the water call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
Notes to editors
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
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