At 5:00pm on 9th April 2025 Coastguards tasked three RNLI lifeboats and a helicopter to an incident with two people in the sea at Porthleven who had been trying to rescue their dog.
RNLI Penlee’s all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat the Ivan Ellen and their B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat the Mollie and Ivor Dent, the Tamar class Lizard lifeboat Rose and a Search and Rescue helicopter Rescue 924 were dispatched to a point just east of Porthleven harbour to recover a dog and two people who had subsequently got into difficulties.
At 17:20 Penlee Lifeboat Ivan Ellen under the command of Coxswain Patch Harvey quickly followed by Penlee’s Mollie & Ivor Dent under the command of Helmsman Will Treneer launched and headed across the bay towards Porthleven, both boats crewed by RNLI volunteers.
At approximately 17:35 it was confirmed that both casualties were back safely ashore one having been helped ashore by a local surfer.
Penlee and Lizard lifeboats were stood down but the Mollie and Ivor Dent proceeded to the scene to standby and give medical assistance if required.
The Search & Rescue Helicopter Rescue 924 was on scene and had landed on the beach, the paramedic on board had checked both casualties over and thankfully they did not require any medical treatment. Porthleven and Mullion Coastguards were also on scene.
Penlee’s lifeboats were released and headed back to Newlyn arriving at 19:00 both boats were washed down, re-fuelled and made ready for their next service.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.
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About the author
Philip Monckton
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Penlee Lifeboat Station
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