Barmston Paddleboarders Pulled to Safety by Bridlington RNLI

Two paddleboarders had to be rescued off the coast of Barmston on Tuesday afternoon (5 August) after being blown out to sea by strong offshore winds.

The volunteer crew from Bridlington RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat Ernie Wellings at 2.07pm, following a request from HM Coastguard just ten minutes earlier. The pair were reported to be drifting away from the beach in challenging conditions, with a moderate south-westerly wind pushing them further offshore.

On arrival, the lifeboat crew found the paddleboarders had sensibly tethered their boards together to stay stable in the choppy water, but progress back to shore had been made almost impossible after one of their oars broke.

Both individuals were brought safely onboard the lifeboat, and their boards recovered. They were then escorted back to Barmston beach.

The lifeboat returned to Bridlington by 2.50pm and was cleaned, refuelled and ready for service again by 3.18pm.

RNLI helm Sarah Berrey, who led the rescue, said:
“Paddleboarding is a fantastic activity, but conditions can change quickly. Thankfully, these paddleboarders had done the right thing by tethering together, but the broken oar made it very difficult for them to return safely.”

She added: “We’re pleased we were able to get to them quickly and bring them back without injury.”

With more people taking to the water during the summer, the RNLI is reminding the public to follow key safety advice when paddleboarding or kayaking:

• Always wear a buoyancy aid or lifejacket
• Check tide and weather conditions – offshore winds can sweep you out to sea
• Carry a means of calling for help, such as a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch
• Tell someone your route and expected return time
• If you get into difficulty, stay with your board and call 999 for the Coastguard