“Forever grateful”: Moment Yorkshire paddleboarders rescued by RNLI after strong winds push them out to sea

Volunteers from Bridlington RNLI rescued a father and daughter who got into difficulty paddleboarding on Saturday.

Footage shows the moment two paddle boarders were rescued off the Yorkshire coast on Saturday 25 July.

Bridlington RNLI volunteers launched during the Station Open Day to assist two paddle boarders who had been reported as being in difficulty off Fraisthorpe beach.

The volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI were tasked at 11:36am and the station’s D class Inshore Lifeboat ‘Ernie Wellings’ launched at 11:43am.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 1:55am, where the two casualties, a father and daughter, were located by the RNLI volunteers, who provided precautionary casualty care to the female, before both casualties were safely returned to the beach at Fraisthorpe and handed over to the awaiting HM Coastguards.

Once safely handed over, the RNLI volunteer crew of the Inshore Lifeboat was stood down and returned to the beach at 1:14pm, and the boat was recovered and returned to service at 12:30pm.

Sarah Berrey, Bridlington RNLI volunteer, said: “We were pleased to quickly locate the father and daughter and ensure they were both brought safely back to shore. The female casualty required some casualty care from our volunteer crew, and we were glad we were able to assist. Despite it being our Open Day, our volunteers are always ready to respond when the pager sounds.”

Gareth, the adult casualty who was rescued said: “Yesterday, my daughter and I found ourselves in serious trouble while paddle boarding off Fraisthorpe Beach, after strong winds pushed us further out to sea. Despite our efforts, we could not make it back to shore.

“Thankfully, the RNLI and Coastguard were called, and their response was nothing short of lifesaving. The RNLI crew reached us quickly and brought my daughter and I safely aboard first, then rescued me moments later. Their calm professionalism, reassurance and care turned a terrifying situation into one with a happy ending. We will be forever grateful to the RNLI, Coastguard and everyone involved. Without them, we genuinely believe we may not have made it home’.”

Bridlington RNLI wants to remind all paddleboarders to take simple precautions before heading onto the water. Always wear a suitable buoyancy aid or personal flotation device, carry a means of calling for help in a waterproof pouch, check the weather and sea conditions before setting off, and avoid going out alone where possible. Bridlington RNLI said that both paddleboarders were wearing the correct safety equipment at the time of the incident.

If you get into difficulty in the water, remember to Float to Live – tilt your head back, relax, and control your breathing while floating on your back. If you see someone in trouble at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.