Bridlington RNLI called to reports of kite surfer in water
The volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI received a tasking request from the HM Coastguard at 3.54pm on Saturday (January 24), after a report was received of a possible kite surfer in trouble in the water south of Bridlington, off Wilsthorpe.
The crew of five were requested to launch the all-weather lifeboat Antony Patrick Jones into some challenging conditions, with a force 5 easterly wind and rough seas, with moderate visibility as night started to fall.
The volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI launched at 4.20pm and were on scene within five minutes, and commenced an immediate search of the area of the last report sighting.
Shortly into the search it was reported that the sighting was one of kite surfers on the beach and that no persons were in the water.
The volunteer crew were then stood down by the HM Coastguard at 4.39pm and returned to the beach in Bridlington, where the boat was recovered by the volunteer shore crew of the Bridlington RNLI, washed down, refuelled the lifeboat which was back on service by 4.59pm.
Speaking after the tasking, Bridlington RNLI volunteer’s Launch Authority, Andrew Budd said: “Thankfully this was a good ending to a tasking in very challenging conditions.
“A member of the public did the correct thing by contacting the HM Coastguard after they thought they saw someone in trouble in the water.
“Clearly this was a call with good intent, and the RNLI encourage people to let the Coastguard know if they think they see anyone in trouble in the water. If you think you see someone in difficulty at sea or on the coast, you should always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”