Inshore lifeboat George Bearman II launched at 1.30pm on 26 May to two jet skiers who had unexpectedly found themselves in the water and drifted 1.5 miles for over 40 minutes.                                               

A windsurfer who had spotted a sinking jet ski and two people in the water off Orcombe Point approached a member of the public to call to the Coastguard.

Crew volunteers conducted a search approximately 1.5 miles south of the lifeboat station for 23 minutes. Once the casualties were located, they were brought ashore and one was given oxygen and monitored as he was in shock and at risk of secondary drowning.

Crew volunteers then returned to pick up their jet ski whilst other Crew first aiders at the lifeboat station assisted the casualty. Exmouth Coastguard Response Team and a South West Ambulance were also present.

Helm, Robert ‘Tommo’ Thompson said:

‘The conditions were challenging – a Force 4/5 wind with 1.5m swells. The men had drifted approximately 1.5 miles westwards from where they had hit a sandbank and had been in the water for over 40 minutes, quite possibly an hour. When we returned to retrieve their jet ski, it had drifted a quarter of a mile in just several minutes.

‘One of the casualties advised the other to stay calm, lean back and float to regulate breathing. This is exactly the message our charity is sharing during the Respect the Water campaign, if you find yourself in the water unexpectedly.’