Latest news 2007

Lizard Lifeboat rescues lone yachtsman

The Lizard lifeboat was called out just before midnight on Sunday 20th May to rescue a lone yachtsman in trouble off the treacherous Black Head coast east of The Lizard. A 22ft British yacht Cobweb 2 had called in to report difficulties in strong headwinds and needing help. The RNLI lifeboat David Robinson under the command of coxswain Phil Burgess went to the yacht's aid and put crewman Fergus Muller aboard to supervise a tow into Falmouth. They arrived at Falmouth at 0330, and The Lizard lifeboat returned to its Kilcobben Cove station to be ready for service again by 0510 this morning (Monday May 21st). The yachtsman, from Bude, had been en route to Saltash and hoped to continue his journey after recovering from his ordeal.

The Lizard lifeboat hit

by violent seas

Two crew members of The Lizard lifeboat David Robinson suffered minor injuries on 4^th March as the lifeboat was returning from an emergency call to Mullion Harbour . The boat also suffered minor damage when she fell approximately 30 feet off a wave into a trough in heavy seas. The RNLI lifeboat had been launched to a tragic incident in which two people had been washed off the harbour wall at Mullion, but was recalled when the casualties were airlifted by helicopter. As the volunteer crew started the journey back there was a heavy ground swell that, combined with the tidal conditions, caused a larger than normal wave. The two crew who were injured went to hospital to be checked over and were released after treatment. The lifeboat was rehoused at its Kilcobben Cove station without incident and was back fully operational within hours, having been checked over by RNLI surveyors.

This incident illustrates the difficult and dangerous demands placed on the RNLI's voluntees who respond to emergency calls whatever the weather. Even when they know the conditions are going to be difficult, they will still respond to the pagers and there had been a full turn out of crew for this call-out. It is also testament to the strength of the lifeboats that the David Robinson was able to withstand the heavy seas with a comparatively small amount of damage and is still able to do her job.

The RNLI is relieved the two crew members are well, and sends deep sympathies to the families of the two people who lost their lives at Mullion.

Marathon effort to boost

The Lizard Lifeboat

Leanne Gilbert of Mullion is making a marathon effort to help the future of her local RNLI lifeboat, literally. And you can help her!

For three years Leanne, a pharmacy technician, has applied to take part in the famous London Marathon – and this year she has succeeded.

So on 22nd April, she will be in the throng running the 26 miles through London in aid of The Lizard Lifeboat. “One or two friends have done it and I’ve wanted to do it for years and to help a good local cause,” she said. “Watching it on TV it looks a really good day with a lovely atmosphere and a good chance to raise some money for charity.” To get fit for the epic run – her first-ever marathon – she is out three evenings a week, running 11 miles each time around her home village: “I’ve done horse-riding and swimming and walk a lot, too,” she said. The Lizard lifeboat is in the queue for a new Tamar lifeboat to replace its trusty old Tyne class boat David Robinson, and fund-raising towards the £2 million new boat is well under way by local station members. Sponsorship forms for Leanne’s effort are being placed in local shops and other outlets in The Lizard and Mullion, or you can donate by sending cheques to Leanne, c/o The Lizard RNLI Lifeboat treasurer, 12 Mitchell Close, The Lizard TR12 7RR.

Thank

Round-Britain walk's £10,000 for The Lizard lifeboat

The Lizard lifeboat is celebrating a £10,000 windfall, thanks to an epic 4,500-mile walk by former actress Jannina Henderson. Jannina set off from Lyme Regis on 1st January last year to walk right round Britain - up the east coast, around Scotland, down the west and Wales, back into England and right round the Cornish peninsula, ending back where she had started. She was accompanied only by her two dogs Tressa and Jago on the 11-month trek, which took in trackless bogs, lonely cliff-tops, winter storms and blazing sunshine. Every penny raised during the walk will go to charity as Jannina paid her own way, sleeping in a camper van driven by family and friends..

Lizard Life Boat goes to aid of 26 seamen

The lifeboat was called out again in storm-force gales at midday on 18^th January to go the aid of 26 seamen on a life-raft after abandoning ship from a large container vessel, MSC Napoli, more than 40 miles off The Lizard. The men were eventually airlifted to safety by Royal Navy helicopters, and the David Robinson returned to its base after five hours at sea.

The Lizard Lifeboat joins search for missing sea-woman

The Lizard Lifeboat spent more than five hours at sea in severe gale-force winds on January 11^th, searching for a woman believed to have fallen overboard from a Russian bulk carrier. The RNLI lifeboat, with its sister boat from Falmouth and RNAS Culdrose search-and-rescue helicopters, was called out when the woman, a steward on the 24,000-tonneVera Maretskaya, was reported missing seven miles south of Falmouth in appalling sea conditions. Falmouth Coastguard coordinated the search, scrambling the lifeboats and helicopters and organizing a search area to be patrolled by the rescuers. Sadly, no trace was found and The Lizard lifeboat, with coxswain Phil Burgess in charge, returned to its Kilcobben Cove station just before 5pm.

Lifeboat goes to drifting coaster

The Lizard lifeboat was scrambled to the aid of a cargo vessel Swan Diana on 10^{th
December when it was reported to have a total steering gear
failure with nine people on board. In rough seas and a strong Westerly
wind five miles from shore, the lifeboat stood off the coaster until
the arrival of ocean salvage tug Sue Hayley. The lifeboat
returned to its station at 6.30pm after nearly three hours at sea, and
was ready for service again 15 minutes later.}

^{Fire hits motor cruiser}

^{A motor cruiser,
Corsican Venture, was reported to have an engine room fire two miles
off The Lizard on 26th August. The
lifeboat was launched to its aid and after the fire was extinguished,
the cruiser was towed to Falmouth. It had three people on board, one
of them a child. The rescue took place in fine summer weather and a
calm sea. The lifeboat returned to base at 7.40 pm after an operation
lasting nearly four hours, and was ready for service again 25 minutes
later}

^{Injured walker rescued from
beach}

^{A woman walker was
reported injured with a suspected broken ankle at Lankidden Cove,
about three miles from the lifeboat station, on 17th
August. Coxswain Phil Burgess dispatched crew ashore to bring
the casualty back to the lifeboat. The David Robinson then
returned to its base, from where the woman’s husband collected her
to take her to the casualty department at Royal Cornwall Hospital. The
whole operation took just under an hour}

^{Help for stricken trawler}

^{On 13th
July, the lifeboat was called out to the aid of a beam trawler
five miles from The Lizard, hit by engine failure with its beam gear
fully deployed. In rough seas and a brisk south-westerly, the David
Robinson stood off the drifting trawler until a coastguard tug
arrived to take the fishing vessel in tow. The lifeboat returned to
its Kilcobben Cove base at 6.15pm after nearly three hours, and was
refuelled ready for service again 20 minutes later.}