Missing paddleboarder search caps busy week for North Berwick lifeboat crew
Locals urged to take care in the water during heatwave
A search for a stand-up paddleboarder swept out to sea off the North Berwick coast was suspended on Saturday evening.
Multiple members of the public witnessed a stand up paddle boarder being blown out to sea on Saturday, May 23, at 6.47pm in the offshore wind.
A thorough search of a large area offshore by North Berwick RNLI volunteers was conducted alongside Anstruther RNLI’s all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, the Robert and Catherine Steen. After four hours on the water the search was suspended as night had fallen and nothing had been found.
This was one of three East Lothian RNLI lifeboat launches in just six days, as temperatures continue to rise across the country.
The RNLI’s volunteers at North Berwick launched the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat, SUNIJO, three times since last Sunday, as the warmer weather has encouraged people to take to the water.
The first call out came on Sunday, May 17, at 7.16pm after a personal water craft broke just outside the fairway in North Berwick. The casualty on the craft had all the correct equipment including a buoyancy aid, handheld VHF radio, paddle and anchor which they had deployed as the wind was blowing them offshore.
After a brief assessment the vessel was taken under tow back to shore, where debris in the fuel was found to be the cause of the engine failure.
The second call came on Friday, May 22, at 6.16pm when Aberdeen Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call from a kayaker in the water after their kayak had sunk underneath them leaving them in the water.
Multiple vessels responded to a Mayday call put out by HM Coastguard, including a passing yacht that recovered the casualty from the water shortly before the lifeboat arrived on scene.
The casualty was taken on board the lifeboat and assessed before being returned to shore with their craft. The casualty was wearing a buoyancy aid and had a waterproofed means of calling for help which enabled a positive outcome.
North Berwick’s volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, Ricky Martin, said: “When the weather forecast is for good weather we always, understandably, see an increase in leisure traffic on the water.
“Anyone who is heading out to sea, for a swim or sail or to fish from a kayak must ensure they have a lifejacket or buoyancy aid and that they carry a waterproofed means of calling for help.
“Check the weather, wind direction and tide times to make sure the conditions are suitable for your plan, if in doubt, don’t go out. Stand up paddle boarders especially should avoid offshore winds which they are particularly vulnerable to.
”If you’re heading out on a power drive craft, check your engine is serviceable your fuel is fresh and charge your batteries.
”In any coastal emergency dial 999 for the Coastguard or call them on VHF channel 16.”
More information on how to stay safe on the coastline can be found here.