West Kirby, England – Members of the public spotted kite surfers in potential difficulty, prompting the second callout in just over 24 hours for West Kirby RNLI volunteers.

On Sunday 30 March, multiple people alerted two West Kirby RNLI volunteers at the lifeboat station about a kite surfer struggling in West Kirby Marine Lake. The surfer had been in the water, lying on his board, trying to stand for 20 minutes. The crew observed him for another ten minutes as he fell off and failed to get up again.

After discussions with HM Coastguard, the lifeboat launched at 11.55am for a welfare check. Within ten minutes, the crew reached the surfer, who said they were tired but okay and heading to shore. The lifeboat stood by until the surfer recovered safely. The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team also confirmed no medical help was needed.

The crew then checked on a second kite surfer at the north end of the lake, who reported no issues. The lifeboat was stood down, washed, refuelled, and ready again by 1pm.

This followed a callout on Saturday 29 March near Cubbins Green, where two people were reported in the water. It turned out to be a false alarm with good intent.

Andy Brown, West Kirby RNLI Launch Authority, praised the public for their vigilance. He noted the large spring tides flooding the lake walkway and urged people to carry communication devices and call 999 for the Coastguard if needed. He also thanked the volunteers who left Mother’s Day lunches to respond.

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