Exmouth, UK – On Saturday, 24 January 2026, the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI sprang into action around 2:30 p.m. following a 999 call to H.M. Coastguard reporting a windsurfer in trouble. Launching into the fierce weather brought by Storm Ingrid, the crew headed toward Pole Sands.

The inshore D-class lifeboat, George Bearman II, with a volunteer crew of three, battled force five winds and three-metre swells to reach the casualty. The windsurfer, whose equipment had failed, was located near the safe water mark in the estuary and brought safely aboard the lifeboat.

Friends of the windsurfer had been keeping watch and provided an accurate location to rescuers. Once back at the lifeboat station, the man was treated to blankets and a warm shower, with friends bringing dry clothes before he returned home.

Exmouth RNLI Launch Authority, Liam Pessell, said, “Our crew are always ready when the pager goes and we are happy that we were able to bring him to safety. Despite the conditions being pretty windy, the winds blowing onshore allowed us to locate the casualty quickly and get him back to the warmth of the boathouse.”

The inshore lifeboat was cleaned, refuelled, and is ready for the next tasking.

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