The Lizard lifeboat was launched yesterday to carry out a search for two life rafts reported drifting several miles south east of the lifeboat station.

See video below.

The lifeboat launched with a crew of five just after 4.15pm to a position 36 miles south east of The Lizard.

A merchant ship ‘Wienawski’, on passage from Germany to Port Said, had seen what they believed to be two life rafts and a life ring floating in the sea and reported this to Falmouth Coastguard.

The Lizard lifeboat was asked to head out, along with the coastguard helicopter from Portland.

The helicopter arrived on scene at 5pm and began a search of the area, with the lifeboat arriving 45 minutes later and helping in the search. Rescue helicopter 193 from RNAS Culdrose then took over the search from the coastguard helicopter, which returned to Portland.

An extensive search of the area was unable to find either life raft or life ring. Due to the conditions on scene – which saw south-westerly winds gusting to over 50 knots, a very rough sea and moderate to poor visibility – and as it was now dark, all search and rescue units were stood down and returned to station.

On arrival their back at the lifeboat station just after 11 pm, Falmouth Coastguard said they had just received a call from a fishing vessel reporting losing two life rafts and a dan buoy earlier in the day.

The lifeboat crew were Coxswain Andrew Putt, Mechanic Dan Atkinson and crew members Adam Weston, Darren Thirlaway and Simon Fayers.