Whilst on exercise in the River Exe on Wednesday,12 August 2026, both our inshore D-Class lifeboat, George Bearman II, and our all weather lifeboat, R & J Welburn, were diverted by H.M. Coastguard to reports of 3 swimmers struggling in the falling tide by the NCI tower.
The volunteer crews started to make best speed to the reported location but were stood down before arriving on scene as another boat in the vicinity provided help to the swimmers. Both lifeboats returned to the evening exercise.