A LIFEBOAT in West Cornwall was called out yesterday after receiving a report that a RIB was taking on water with seven people on board.

Penlee RNLI volunteers received the shout from Falmouth Coastguard just after 2pm on Sunday to help the RIB [rigid inflatable boat], which was located off the southern coast of the Lizard.

Usually, this shout would have been attended by the Lizard RNLI, however, those crews were already assisting a yacht 20 miles south of Newlyn.

Upon their arrival at Soapy Cove, Penlee RNLI found that the six people, which included children, had been dropped off at the shore by the RIB, which had intended to return and pick them up but was unable to start the engine due to water in its fuel tank.

Lifeboat crews picked up all six people from the cove and returned them to the rib while it towed them back to safety.

In an update posted on its social media page, Penlee Lifeboat said: "Penlee RNLI volunteers launched to a RIB with seven people aboard "At 2.05pm on Sunday, June 4, 2023 Penlee's RNLI B class Atlantic 85 Lifeboat was dispatched by Falmouth Coastguard to assist with a rib which was taking on water with seven people on board.

"The ILB [inshore lifeboat] Mollie and Ivor Dent made good speed across the bay to the Lizard area in reasonable conditions arriving at 2.35pm through a force 4 east south-easterly wind and a slight to moderate sea. It would normally be a shout for the Lizard RNLI volunteers but they had already been dispatched to a yacht requiring assistance 20 miles south of Newlyn.

"The volunteer crew arrived at the wonderful sounding Soapy Cove, finding that six people including children were ashore having been dropped off by the rib who intended to return to pick them up but with water in the fuel tank he couldn't start the engine.

"The RNLI lifeboat collected the six persons from the beach keeping the children on the lifeboat and transferring the adults to the RIB from where they were towed to safety in Porthleven."