Filey lifeboat helps save three kayakers

Filey RNLI was part of a mulitagency operation last Friday which was launched to help three kayakers who had got into difficulty about half a mile off Flamborough Head.

Flamborough RNLI was launched at 1.20pm following a briefing from HM Coastguard.

A radio call directly from the casualties alerted the coastguards, who immediately launched a search and rescue operation involving crews from Flamborough, Bridlington and Filey RNLI and Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team.

Due to lack of visibility and a big swell, Flamborough RNLI located the first two kayakers using specialised on board equipment.

The lifeboat then made its way back to South Landing to transfer the casualties to the waiting paramedics, all the while still searching for the third kayaker.

Flamborough RNLI headed back to the search area continuing further north with the tide, when they were joined by Bridlington RNLI and Filey RNLI.

Using the seafaring knowledge of a crew member Flamborough RNLI searched up and down the tide, taking the search area further north towards Bempton.

Whilst Bridlington RNLI found the kayak, HM Coastguard received a phone call from the public to say they had spotted the kayaker.

The search area was moved between the two lifeboats with both reaching the casualty at the same time.

Flamborough RNLI took the casualty to the beach at North Landing to be seen by a waiting paramedic, where it was decided that the paramedic and the hypothermic kayaker would be both transferred to Bridlington RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat to be taken to the ambulances at South Landing to transfer the casualty to hospital.

Flamborough RNLI then returned to station.

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