Saturday, July 23, 2005

LIFEBOAT DEMO TURNS INTO REAL-LIFE DRAMA

A demonstration by RNLI lifeguards ended in a real-life beach rescue.

Members of the St Agnes RNLI lifeboat crew abandoned a presentation about safety and rescue techniques when they received an emergency call.

Within two minutes, their new rescue boat was fighting through heavy surf following a report that a man had become stranded in the sea at Portreath.

A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also on stand-by but the man managed to reach the safety of the beach without injury.

Before the drama unfolded, the crew from Blue Peter IV had been at Trevaunance Cove in St Agnes, thanking members of the Cornwall branch of the Auto Cycle Union who raised £500 for the RNLI.

Operations manager at St Agnes lifeboat station Nick Marsh presented club president John Bassett with a framed certificate as thanks for the club's work.

Earlier this year the club donated £500 to the St Agnes branch of the RNLI during the annual car trial at Blue Hills.

And a commemorative bench was placed at the top of the infamous cliff top hill.

Club spokesman Rose Disney said: "The motorcycle club was really honoured to have been treated to a display. It was a dramatic day in the end," said club spokesman Rose Disney.

"We have always supported the RNLI because they save so many lives - they even saved mine once.

Mrs Disney said she once became stuck at the bottom of a cliff, and praised the RNLI crew which rescued her.

"They were out there so quickly. It is nice to know they are always on hand if you get into trouble."

Lifeboat operations manager Nick Marsh said: "It costs approximately £30,000 a year to run the lifeboat so we are always grateful for donations such as this.

The Blue Peter IV came to St Agnes in February following a naming ceremony by Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq at the International Boat Show, London.

She is the fifth boat St Agnes has received from the children's television programme and has been greatly modified from the previous one.