Boscastle Coastguard Rescue Team was paged to two separate incidents in a single morning recently, highlighting the importance of being prepared when enjoying Cornwall’s coastline.
The first incident occurred at Trebarwith Strand, where a man suffered a head injury and laceration after falling from rocks. Coastguard volunteers provided casualty care on scene before handing him over to ambulance crews for onward treatment.
Shortly after returning from that incident, the team was called to Boscastle Harbour following reports of a father and son in difficulty after launching two kayaks. Having made their way out of the harbour, they quickly encountered more challenging sea conditions than expected. Both lost their kayaks and ended up stranded on rocks outside the harbour.
The alarm was raised by Boscastle National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), prompting a multi-agency response involving HM Coastguard and Port Isaac RNLI. Coastguard teams deployed to both sides of the harbour while the RNLI lifeboat crew successfully recovered both casualties and returned them safely to shore.
Boscastle Coastguard highlighted two factors that prevented the incident from becoming more serious: the rapid response from NCI, RNLI and Coastguard teams, and the fact that both casualties were wearing lifejackets and had a means of calling for help.
The team is reminding everyone heading onto or near the water that conditions can change quickly, even when they appear manageable from shore. Always wear a lifejacket, carry a means of communication, and ensure you have the skills and equipment appropriate for the conditions.
