Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team

11/05/2026

08/04/2026

Staying safe in the water 🌊

Beaches are great place to relax and have some fun. The RNLI have a range of advice on how you can stay safe and enjoy all that a day at the beach has to offer.

Be aware of rip currents and what to do. If you get caught in a rip:
😫Don’t try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted.
🧍‍♂️If you can stand, wade don’t swim.
🏊‍♂️If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore.
🙋‍♂️Always raise your hand and shout for help.

🍻Don’t drink and swim, enjoy alcohol after you’ve been in the water. Alcohol-related incidents often begin near, rather than in, water and people never intended to enter the water in the first place.

🥶Be mindful of cold water shock. Anything below 15°C is defined as cold water and the average UK sea temperature is 12°C. If you enter the water unexpectedly:
Take a minute - don’t try to swim immediately, the initial effects pass in less than a minute.

Relax and float on your back to catch your breath.

Keep calm - then call for help or swim for safety if able.

📱In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.
For more information visit the RNLI website: https://brnw.ch/21x1qcL
Falmouth & Exeter Students' Union FXResLife Falmouth Exeter Plus LoveFalmouth Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team

22/03/2026

09/01/2026

What a night that was.

Team members were tasked to four incidents near the peak of Storm Goretti.

Initially we were called at 1950 to a vessel with two persons on board in distress at Falmouth Haven. Falmouth Lifeboat was also tasked to assist.

Conditions on the pontoons were quite unfavourable with lines snapping and waves breaking over the top. Unable to be evacuated by boat. A risk assessment was carried out and safe system of work put in place, including full water intervention kit.

Coastguard Team members rescued two persons and two dogs from the vessel and recovered them to the safety of the Chain Locker on Custom House Quay.

While this was happening, we were tasked to a report of a person in the water at Premier Falmouth Marina

Team members split from the initial incident and took our other vehicle to this job.

An immediate search of the area was carried out, again alongside the lifeboat crew.

The missing male was quickly located on the stern of his vessel. He and another occupant were rescued by Coastguard Team members and bought to the safety of the marina office for rewarming and a cup of tea!

We were also tasked to support the Lifeboat crew in transferring two other casualties from other vessels to the shore that had gotten into difficulty during the night.

Eventually we stood down and returned home by around 2330.

Thanks to everyone for the various offers of tea and biscuits on the way round!

https://fb.watch/EwAt-sh5pc/ - Video - Credit to Emma Tuckley

Photo - Credit to Falmouth CRT

30/12/2025

28/12/2025

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 - 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

Our volunteer crew were paged again at 10.18pm yesterday, following concern about a small boat with one person on board drifting in Falmouth Harbour.
Our Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Robina Nixon Chard' launched at 10.28pm and headed towards Prince of Wales pier, where Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team were already on scene.
After a short search with the lifeboats powerful spot lights, the vessel was located, the casualty transferred to the lifeboat and both taken to Prince of Wales pier, where they were handed across to the care of the Coastguard team.
The lifeboat returned to the station where it was readied for further service by midnight.

Photo: Jack Williams / RNLI

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21/12/2025

We were tasked yesterday to a report of multiple missing kayakers in the Fal River area.

Early reports suggested there were as many as three missing teenagers.

Initially one of the party had come ashore at Trelissick House and was able to raise the alarm, while others had gone ashore at Malpas and at Loe Beach. South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust paramedics attended to treat one of the party.

Team members attended the various locations and were quickly ably to ascertain that all were accounted for and also assisted one of the casualties at Trelissick House.

Thanks to Portscatho Coastguard Rescue Team also, for covering the search area on their side.

Always consider weather conditions when you go out on the water, even if it’s fine where you are now, always check where you’re planning on going.

Always take a means of communication - VHF radio, mobile phone in a waterproof bag, PLB etc.

Always wear a life jacket suitable for the water activity you’re undertaking. No matter how experienced you may be, you can easily be caught out.

𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 - 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

Both of our lifeboats were requested by Falmouth Coastguard yesterday morning following multiple 999 calls, concerning kayakers in the River Fal.
Our volunteer crew had just finished a Christmas crew breakfast and were assembling to take the boats on the annual run to St Mawes Sailing Club when our pagers sounded at 9.55am.
Both boats made best speed, in southerly force 7 winds, towards Turnaware Point, arriving within 10 minutes, where a search was commenced towards King Harry Ferry and Loe Beach.
Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team were also tasked and the Coastguard helicopter put on standby.
The Coastguard team soon found the party of kayakers ashore, with all well and accounted for.
The lifeboats were released from service to continue with their visit to St.Mawes.

Photo: Simon Culliford / RNLI

19/12/2025

📟🚨 - This afternoon we were tasked to a medical incident on Penryn Bridge. Team members and two full time officers assisted a casualty until the arrival of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust paramedics.

Thanks to the members of the public for the help and also to the ‘Cafe on the Quay’ for the kind offers. 🚨

13/12/2025

📟🚨 - We were tasked late last night to a report of a red flare sighting in the area to the north Gorran Gorras creek, Penryn.

Falmouth Lifeboat were also tasked to assist.

Shoreline searches were carried out by teams on foot and by the ILB from the seaward side. No vessels or persons were found to be in difficulty.

Flares are not fireworks. They are to be used for maritime distrsss situations only. 🚨

The members of the public who spotted the flare did exactly the right thing by dialling 999 and asking for COASTGUARD

Advice on how to dispose of flares can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/disposing-of-unwanted-marine-flares

27/11/2025

🚨📟 We were tasked yesterday to a report of a person fallen and stuck in mud at Helford Village.

Porthoustock Coastguard Rescue Team, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service were also tasked to assist and were able to resolve the incident successfully before we arrived. We were stood down and returned to station. 🚨

🚨 Remember, if you see anyone in danger on the coast, ☎️ 999 and ask for COASTGUARD 🚨

02/11/2025

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 - 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

Our volunteer crew responded to an immediate launch request from Falmouth Coastguard at 4.19pm yesterday following a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a person in difficulties in the water near the mouth of the Helford River.
Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team and Porthoustock Coastguard Rescue Team were both in attendance.
Our Atlantic 85, inshore lifeboat 'Robina Nixon Chard' launched within eight minutes with a full crew of four, including a doctor and proceeded at full speed, arriving on scene 10 minutes later.
In the slight seas, and with the help of the Coastguard rescue teams, the casualty was quickly located and taken onboard to receive casualty care.
Our helmsman requested the assistance of the Coastguard helicopter, who winched a medic to the lifeboat to assist.
The decision was then taken to take the casualty to the lifeboat station, where they were handed across to a waiting ambulance.
The lifeboat was readied for further service by 6.00pm.
This rescue was recorded as a life saved.

Photo: RNLI / Simon Culliford