SALCOMBE RNLI have launched six times since the start of the year, to a mechanical failure and a missing person among others.

On January 8, both the all-weather lifeboat ’The Baltic Exchange III’ and the inshore lifeboat ’Joan Bate’ were tasked to reports of a life raft spotted in Start Bay. After a short search of the area, a fisherman’s tent was located floating in the water. After recovering the tent, both boats return to station.

On January 11, both boats were launched to help the police search for a high-risk missing person. After a short shoreline search, the police radioed that the person had been found and both boats returned to Salcombe.

On January 14, The Baltic Exchange III was tasked to Bigbury Bay to a report of a small dingy with two people on board, drifting out to sea. Working with HM Coastguard, the two people were found and had landed safely at Hope Cove.

On January 17, The Baltic Exchange III was tasked to a commercial fishing vessel with mechanical failure 25 miles SE of Start Point. The vessel was taken into tow by another vessel in the vicinity and Salcombe RNLI returned to station.

You can follow Salcombe RNLI on Facebook and Twitter and find out more about their work protecting lives at sea on their website: salcombelifeboat.co.uk