The RNLI have warned people not to go out in heavy seas without being properly equipped after a paddle boarder without any protection was washed onto rocks in strong offshore winds.

Fowey Lifeboat was called out by Falmouth Coastguard on Tuesday, November 14 to reports of a paddleboarder and swimmer in trouble in the water off Portmellon.

The all-weather lifeboat was launched at 12:41pm. The lifeboat report said the wind was blowing offshore, a strong westerly blowing straight out of Portmellon at 23 gusting to 30 knots with a 2.6m swell in the lee of the land.

“Due to the weather conditions the paddleboarder was unable to control her board and eventually got washed onto rocks near Chapel Point,” said the report. “She had been in the water or sitting on the rocks for about an hour, and had no personal flotation device, wet suit or other aids. Fortunately she was carrying a phone.”

Her boyfriend swam out to try and help her but ended up in trouble himself.

Fowey’s all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene at 2:07pm with the paddleboarder stranded on the rocks with no way of getting off.

The volunteer crew used the XP daughter boat so that they could get close into the rocks to rescue her. She was hypothermic and exhausted and unable to help herself.

She was transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and put into a Dry Robe, then taken into Portmellon shore on the XP boat as it was low water. There she was handed over to the coast guard and a waiting ambulance team, who started to warm her up.

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By this time the swimmer had made his own way back and the coastguard team confirmed that he had been located and was safe and well. Once the casualty had been handed over, the XP boat returned to the all-weather boat which then returned to station.

Fowey lifeboat operations manager, Chris Ogg, said: "The RNLI urges people to check the weather forecast carefully before venturing out on the water, especially when paddleboarding. Avoid offshore winds as you can easily be blown out to sea very quickly and offshore winds will tire you quickly when trying to return to shore. Always wear a personal floatation device and suitable clothing for the forecasted conditions and always carry a means of calling for help."