AFTER a busy period with two shouts for the inshore lifeboat crew, Looe RNLI volunteers have reflected on the challenges of launching and rescue while adhering to Covid-19 guidelines.
The first of Tuesday’s calls was to assist a broken down bayliner boat and the second shout was to investigate reports of an empty kayak at Portwrinkle.
The call from a 20’ bayliner, with two persons on board, and suffering engine problems by Looe Island came from Falmouth Coastguard at around 4.15pm.
’Our RNLI volunteers were paged and the duty crew mustered at the lifeboat station, where they kitted up in their standard PPE and additional covid-19 protection of face masks and gloves.
’Within ten minutes the charity’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II was launched , and the bayliner was found anchored in very shallow water north of Looe Island.’
The crew were safe and well and the vessel was towed back to Looe harbour by the lifeboat.
Later in the evening the RNLI crew once again launched to reports of an empty green kayak drifting off Portwrinkle beach.
’Together with Looe and Tamar coastguard teams, our volunteer crew conducted a shoreline search for a missing person. With nothing found and more information coming in from the shore about the incident, Looe lifeboat was stood down and returned to station around 11 pm.
’Launching to shouts is more difficult during the coronavirus with RNLI crews having to use additional PPE as well as their normal lifesaving PPE and trying to social distance whilst onboard the lifeboat,’ said operations manager Dave Haines.
’Our crew has adapted and adhered to the updated RNLI protocols for hygiene, PPE and social distancing and there has been minimal impact on our launch time whilst following these new procedures.’