Blackpool lifeboat volunteers urge for care around the sea after busy spell of callouts in 48 hours
Person floating in sea off Gynn Square and kayak rescue among incidents dealt with
Blackpool’s lifeboat rescue volunteers are urging people to take care around the sea after a busy spell of calls for service in the last 48 hours.
At 10.20pm on Tuesday evening, there was a pager call to respond to a concern for welfare in the sea at South Pier.
Both D class lifeboats were launched with Blackpool Endeavour first on scene but the matter was resolved on land.
While still at sea, however, the RNLI volunteer crew were diverted to a second tasking at 10.27pm for a further concern for welfare around North Pier.
After a search with nothing found, the tasking was left for further enquiries with community partners on land.
Before the lifeboat was recovered, a third tasking came in at 10.34pm for a person in distress in the sea off Gynn Square.
A person was found floating and recovered from the sea suffering from injuries. Immediate casualty care was given, with the person being conveyed back to the lifeboat station into the care of the North West Ambulance Service.
The next call came through at 4.26 pm on Wednesday afternoon to support Blackpool Police in a concern for welfare at Central Pier but ended up not being required and was stood down.
On Wednesday evening at 7.30pm, a call came in for a young person on an inflatable Kayak having been blown offshore near Chatsworth Ave, Fleetwood.
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Both the Atlantic 85 and a D class lifeboat were diverted off training to make to the scene, with the Atlantic 85 arriving on scene first.
Finding the young person with the kayak over half a mile from shore, the volunteer crew rescued the person who was then transferred to the D class for further transfer to the beach.
“With seven calls for service received since Monday evening, we are urging people to be aware of their surroundings, take note of tides and wind direction, exercising caution with any offshore wind,” said a Blackpool RNLI spokesperson.
“As ever, if you see anything of concern on the beach or at sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. “