Exmouth RNLI volunteer crew members launched their inshore lifeboat on Saturday evening, following a number of 999 calls reporting a windsurfer in difficulty on the River Exe.

At 6.14pm on Saturday, March 27, Exmouth RNLI inshore lifeboat D-805 George Bearman II was launched having been tasked by HM Coastguard to a report of a male windsurfer apparently in difficulty and unable to make progress. He was last reported on the River Exe between the River Exe Café and Lower Halsdon Farm, Exmouth.

The lifeboat was commanded by Helm, Guy Munnings and volunteer lifeboat crew Henry Mock and James Searle.

The lifesavers arrived at the last sighting of the windsurfer at 6.29pm and, following a report that the casualty may have been helped ashore, began a shoreline search of the river. At 6.36pm the crew noticed an individual fitting the description of the windsurfer on shore at Lower Halsdon Farm and a member of the crew went ashore to investigate. Exmouth Coastguard Rescue team were also in attendance.

The casualty was identified, found to be safe and well and the lifeboat was stood down from the assignment at 6.52pm, at which point the lifeboat made its way back to the Lifeboat Station where it was back on service a short time later.

RNLI advice for windsurfers can be downloaded from this link :

https://rnli.org/-/media/rnli/downloads/in-the-surf-rnli-guide-to-surfsport-safety-english-version.pdf