Edinburgh RNLI rescue group cut off by tide at Cramond Island
Edinburgh lifeboat rescue crews raced to save a group of people who found themselves 'cut off by the tide'.
The RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat rushed to Cramond Island on Sunday June 29 after receiving reports of individuals who had become stranded. This came just as volunteer crew were finishing up their annual open day.
The lifeboat was retasked after arriving at the scene to Limekilns where children were stranded on the rocks - with that task a higher priority due to the flooding tide, reports Edinburgh Live.
After they had ensured the children were safe, the crew returned to Cramond Island and took the group back to Cramond Village where they were met by local coastguard teams.
An RNLI spokesperson said: "The initial tasking was to reports of three persons cut off by the tide on Cramond Island. The lifeboat was launched, and made way to the scene.
"Upon arrival, UK Coastguard retasked the lifeboat to attend an incident at Limekilns pier where a number of children were reported to be stranded on rocks. As this was a higher priority tasking and a flooding tide, the lifeboat made best speed to Limekilns.
"The crew found three paddle boarders as they arrived on scene. It was confirmed that these were the casualties initially reported by the first informant. The paddleboarders confirmed they were on the rocks earlier, and were safe and well.
"Following this, the crew made their way back to Cramond Island to continue with the original tasking. Five persons were recovered from the island and taken to Cramond Village, to meet with local Coastguard teams.
"The lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service again at 7.50pm."
In a separate incident on June 24, we reported that two people had to be rescued by the RNLI after getting into difficulty in an inflatable kayak off the coast of North Berwick.
The pair were caught in fierce offshore winds and began drifting dangerously out to sea, prompting a rescue operation by the North Berwick RNLI. Volunteers launched lifeboat SUNIJO just before 4pm on Tuesday June 24, after receiving an emergency call.
Strong south-westerly winds created a serious risk, and the kayak users were unable to paddle back to shore. Coastguard rescue teams said the speed at which they were drifting meant they would not have been able to make it back safely without help.
Working alongside the North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team and tour vessels from the Scottish Seabird Centre, RNLI crews located the duo and brought them safely back to land, reports EdinburghLive.
RNLI helm Fraser Fulton issued a warning about the dangers of offshore winds, which are often underestimated. He said: 'Offshore winds are seen as a hidden danger at the coast. It may seem sheltered right inshore, but further out to sea the conditions are significantly different, with large waves and stronger winds that can be difficult to paddle against.
'We advise against using any inflatable, not powered by an engine, on the sea during offshore winds. Unfortunately in North Berwick, with the prevailing south-westerly winds, that is the majority of the time.'
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