4 days ago
RNLI crew in dramatic rescue of four paddleboarders in North Sea
The lifeboat crew were scrambled after vessel got into difficulty off the coast of Stonehaven.
Four paddleboarders have been rescued from the North Sea by the RNLI after getting into difficulty.
The town's RNLI volunteer crew were called to the incident off the coast of Stonehaven at around 8.15pm on Tuesday, June 3, and dispatched the lifeboat to reach their reported location.
Crew members quickly located the first paddleboarder before making their way to the three remaining individuals who had drifted further out to sea, reports Aberdeen Live.
Dramatic footage shared by the RNLI captured the moment the quartet were rescued from the challenging conditions, with all four safely transferred onto the lifeboat for initial casualty care.
They were taken back to shore at Catterline Harbour and handed over to the care of HM Coastguard and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Montrose RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was also tasked by the Coastguard to support the incident yesterday at around 8.18pm, before being stood down at 9.34pm.
Stonehaven RNLI had successfully retrieved the casualties, while the Montrose-based team located a missing paddleboard to prevent any further call outs.
Kenny Jones, volunteer helm at Stonehaven RNLI, said: "Thankfully the casualties had their mobile phones with them and knew to call the coastguard when they got into difficulties.
"The weather conditions off our coast can change really quickly and what starts as an adventure can quickly go wrong. It is so important that people have the equipment and knowledge they need.
"Life jackets, mobile phones, VHF radios and bright clothing are simple things people can buy to help their safety but knowledge of the tides, weather forecasts, local conditions and experience are crucial when planning a trip to enjoy our beautiful coastline.
"If anyone sees someone in difficulty on the coast, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."
