Blackpool RNLI volunteers launch to two incidents on Sunday evening

Blackpool's RNLI lifeboat volunteers were called out on Sunday to reports of a kayak which had capsized in the sea off Anchorsholme leaving one man in the water and another kayaker struggling to assist him.

Shortly before 4pm the coastguard were contacted by an RNLI volunteer who could see the drama unfolding from his house. Two kayakers were fishing when one of them capsized, the cold water meant he quickly got into difficulty and was left clinging to his companion's kayak. Blackpool's RNLI volunteers launched the Atlantic class lifeboat and were on scene in minutes, they took the casualty on board the lifeboat and transported him to the beach and a waiting ambulance where he was treated for the effects of the cold. The lifeboat then recovered the unmanned kayak.

Blackpool's RNLI volunteers were then called upon for a second time on Sunday evening when a pile of women's clothes were found on the sea wall near the Imperial Hotel. The RNLI volunteers spent ninety minutes performing an extensive search of the shoreline from North Pier to Norbreck Castle but no trace of a casualty was found and the lifeboats returned to station.

Blackpool RNLI volunteer helmsman Colin Lowe said, ‘This year has been a very busy year for us, in addition to the two launches on Sunday we also launched twice on Friday. We're happy that so many people are coming to Blackpool and enjoying the beach but it's so important that they do it safely. We'd just ask people to be aware of their surroundings at all time and if they have any concerns about anything they see to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'

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