Swimmer in Distress Alert Prompts Urgent Response From Falmouth Lifeboat

Falmouth’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched on Wednesday, 18th September, following multiple emergency calls about a swimmer reportedly in trouble off Gyllyngvase Beach. The dramatic evening rescue effort began after Falmouth Coastguard received four separate 999 calls.

The Atlantic 85 lifeboat, ‘Robina Nixon Chard,’ had just finished an evening exercise and was being cleaned down when the call came in at 9.18pm. The crew swiftly launched the boat again, but with light fading rapidly, the all-weather lifeboat ‘Richard Cox Scott’ was also requested to join the search and launched at 9.33pm.

Coordinated Search Effort

The ‘Robina Nixon Chard’ reached the scene within eight minutes, guided by the Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team from the shore. Just ten minutes later, the ‘Richard Cox Scott’ arrived and began a further search pattern in the area.

False Alarm with Good Intent

However, the tense search quickly took a turn when it was confirmed from the shore that the object believed to be a swimmer was actually a swim buoy. Both lifeboats were then released from service by HM Coastguard and returned to the station by 10.10pm.

While the incident turned out to be a false alarm, the prompt and professional response by the Falmouth lifeboat crew ensured that no real danger was overlooked.

The message remains, if you see someone in distress, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.