Both Exmouth RNLI Lifeboats were launched this morning (Mon 19) after a report of an unattended kiteboard being washed up on the beach at Ladram Bay.

A spokesperson for Exmouth RNLI said: "At 08:41hrs today, Monday 19 October 2020, H.M. Coastguard assigned both our RNLI All Weather Lifeboat 13-03 R & J Welburn and Inshore Lifeboat D-755 Peggy-D to a report of an unattended kiteboard found on the beach at Ladram Bay and potentially a person in difficulty in the sea.

"The lifeboats, tasked with conducting a shoreline search from Ladram Bay to Jacobs Ladder, were assisted by two H.M. Coastguard Rescue Teams.

"The All Weather Lifeboat was manned by lifesaving volunteer crew, Steve Hockings-Thompson, Scott Ranft, Roger Jackson, Chris Sims and Andrew Stott and the Inshore Lifeboat by Henry Mock, Sarah Beresford and James Edge.

"Both lifeboats were stood down from their tasking at 09:18hrs today when it was established that the kiteboard had been on the beach, apparently abandoned, since yesterday."

They were back on station ready for service a short time later.