A man who had been cut off by the tide near Downderry on Saturday was rescued by lifeboat crew.

It was the first shout of 2019 for Looe RNLI, who responded to a call from Falmouth Coastguard and launched both inshore lifeboats across the bay to Long Rock to go to the man’s aid.

While crew on board the bigger Atlantic 85 lifeboat carried out a shoreline search, the lifeboatmen on board the D Class vessel were able to get in closer to the beach.

Crew members Tom Peat and Richard Porter went ashore to go to the man’s assistance, and finding him uninjured, helped him through the surf to the smaller of the inshore lifeboats. He was then taken back to the main beach at Downderry.

Clive Palfrey, Looe RNLI volunteer helm on the Atlantic 85, said: ‘It was difficult to see the beach through the breaking surf and the height advantage with the Atlantic 85 proved invaluable to locate the casualty.’

Meanwhile, Dan Margetts, who helms the D Class lifeboat, said: ‘the D Class is highly manoeuvrable and when operating close to shore, it comes into its own for rescues in the surf.’

Both helms advise everyone on the coast to watch the weather and tides, always check tide times before you set off and carry a means of calling for help with a charged battery.

They both commented that the casualty did the right thing, when realising he was cut off, by calling 999 and asking for the coastguard.