At 15:03hrs, HM Coastguard requested the immediate launch of Exmouth RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, George Bearman II, to reports of a person in the water and needing help.
Fortunately, three ILB crew members were already at the lifeboat station when the pagers sounded, and with one of our tractor drivers conveniently passing by, the ILB was launched within five minutes. The crew quickly located the casualty and brought them safely ashore.
However, with a strong wind and a moderate surf running, it was decided to recover the ILB from an alternative site, Belshers Slipway, near the Marina. This involved driving the Tooltrak and trailer from the station to the slipway, recovering the ILB, and then returning to the station, a round trip of about four miles.
With the Tooltrack’s top speed of just over 6 mph, we offer our apologies to all those car drivers we may have delayed along the Esplanade!