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Whilst heading out to sea, their All-Weather lifeboat crew spotted two younger males attempting to swim across the busy boating channel and at risk of being struck by one of the many boats currently in the channel.
Thursday 15 August - regular exercise turns into assistance for two swimmers
Exmouth RNLI volunteer crews exercise every Wednesday evening and they were conducting an exercise using both of our lifeboats (our All-Weather lifeboat, R&J Welburn, and our ILB, George Bearman II).
The exercise was focussed on a casualty care scenario (simulating the extraction of a casualty who had been struck by a motorboat propellor) and shortly after concluding their training our volunteers came across a real-life scenario that had the potential to end up in exactly the same way.
Whilst heading out to sea, their All-Weather lifeboat crew spotted two younger males attempting to swim across the busy boating channel and at risk of being struck by one of the many boats currently in the channel.
Their volunteers therefore requested that their ILB colleagues intervene. The ILB crew approached the individuals and convinced them to enter the ILB and be taken to the safety of the shore.
At the time in question, at least 4 other motor boats were heading inbound on the channel and presented the very real risk of injury or death to the two swimmers.
A positive conclusion on this occasion, but they must stress again to all Exmouth beach & water users that swimming across the busy river channel is incredibly dangerous and could result in the serious injury or death of any persons involved.