Busiest month for Looe RNLI crews since the station's reopening
Lifeboat teams encounter numerous incidents during August's warm weather
August 2026 marked a significant milestone for Looe RNLI volunteer crews, experiencing their busiest month since the lifeboat station reopened in June 1992.
During this month, the crews responded to 20 incidents, launching their inshore lifeboats 17 times.
The combination of warm weather and strong offshore winds proved to be challenging, keeping the lifeboat teams actively engaged.
Looe RNLI's Challenges
The volunteers responded to various emergencies, with 14 incidents occurring at sea, leading to 17 lifeboat launches.
Six incidents were shore-based.
The crews were called to assist kayakers and paddleboarders caught in offshore winds and people cut off by the tide.
They also participated in searches for missing individuals, including an overdue sailor.
While stationed at the lifeboat centre, crew members assisted a woman facing difficulties while wading the river at low tide and reunited a lost child with his parents.
Crew Commitment and Community Support
Clive Palfrey, Looe RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, praised the crew's dedication during the demanding month.
Palfrey said, “August turned out to be exceptionally busy for the station’s volunteer crew, with days when one incident followed another in quick succession."
"I am extremely proud of the commitment shown by all the crew, both long established and our newest volunteers, who responded in significant numbers to every shout, as well as continuing to attend our regular Wednesday training evenings."
“They train hard during the year, and this training really paid off as they dealt with 8 varied medical incidents, a couple of shoreline searches, together with 6 shouts to people caught out by the strength of the offshore wind."
Palfrey expressed gratitude towards the crew members’ families, recognising their support in allowing volunteers to undertake life-saving missions.