The volunteer crew at St Ives Lifeboat Station have had their busiest week so far this year.

St Ives all-weather lifeboat

The all-weather lifeboat being launched. Photograph: Russell Bush

On 11th June, the inshore lifeboat went to the aid of a person with a disability, and their carer. They had been cut off by the tide and were rescued, with a wheelchair recovered to safety.

Three days later, the inshore lifeboat was launched again, this time to assist someone in the water near the Hayle Estuary. They were safely recovered. Another three days later, a kayaker was assisted by the crew.

The pagers sounded again on the morning of Monday this week and the all-weather lifeboat launched to a yacht caught in discarded fishing net. The vessel and crew were assisted back to a safe mooring.

Later the same day the pager sounded for a second time to assist a rigid inflatable boat that had gearbox failure. Again, people were assisted back to the safety of the harbour. Then there was another call to investigate an overturned inflatable dinghy in the harbour.

St Ives Lifeboat spokesperson, Niki Brooks, said: “We want everyone to enjoy our coastline safely, therefore we strongly recommend that anyone wishing to use the beaches and enter the water do so on a
lifeguarded beach, familiarise themselves with local tide times and sea conditions, and check out the RNLI website for a wealth of safety information.”