On the afternoon of 3 August, vigilant Exmouth RNLI volunteers spotted a total of seven people in difficulty in Lyme Bay. Six casualties from a capsized motor boat and a swimmer in danger were brought to safety by the charity’s Shannon and D class lifeboats.

At 1.15pm, volunteers at the lifeboat station witnessed a capsized motor boat through binoculars. All the occupants were in the water, two adults and four teenagers – with only one lifejacket between them. Self-launching the inshore lifeboat George Bearman immediately, with two crew and one tractor driver, the pair were on the water within six minutes. At the same time, a passing fishing boat helped retrieve five casualties and a yacht helped pick up the last from the water. On scene within minutes, the volunteers transferred the single casualty from the yacht and made their way to Exmouth Marina, escorting the fishing boat.

All casualties were checked for cold water shock and cleared by waiting Paramedics and ambulance staff. An RNLI Lifeguard aboard a jet-ski stood by the drifting vessel which was then towed part-sunken, ashore to Rodney Bay by the inshore lifeboat. The casualties were then escorted back to Sandy Bay.

At around the same time at 1.30pm, Shannon class lifeboat R and J Welburn was returning from exercise off Teignmouth, where flank station volunteers were holding their annual Open Day. Crew volunteers spotted a swimmer in difficulty in the strong, ebbing tide of the Teign river channel. The casualty was taken on board the Shannon class lifeboat and returned safely to Teignmouth Harbour Master launch boat. Deputy Coxswain, Roger Jackson was aboard the R and J Welburn;

‘We were just leaving the Teign estuary when we spotted the gentlemen attempting to cross the channel, thinking he could make it. He was very lucky we were there at that precise moment as there were tricky outgoing tides. He signalled and shouted for our assistance. We deployed the A frame gantry for the first time to hoist him up on deck, using a strop around his upper body. We lifted him onto the aft deck and then transferred him to Teignmouth authorities to safety.’