Staithes RNLI lifeboat launched at 3:45pm on Tuesday afternoon when a local man became concerned that his girlfriend and two children might be cut off by the tide.
The man called the coastguard to say that he understood his girlfriend might be walking along the coast beneath the cliffs between Port Mulgrave and Staithes and that she had set off at 11:00am which was low tide. Despite numerous calls to the woman’s mobile phone there was no answer due to the lack of signal.
Humber Coastguard diverted an RAF rescue helicopter which was exercising nearby and requested the launch of Staithes lifeboat. The helicopter and lifeboat crews searched between Staithes and Port Mulgrave but after twenty minutes the crew at the lifeboat station received a phone call to say that the woman and children had returned home safe and well.
Lee Jackson, press officer and a helmsman of Staithes lifeboat, says:-
“The man did exactly the right thing by calling the coastguard and expressing his concerns. We know the woman knew the tide times but may have changed her planned route. When out and about near or on the sea always make sure someone knows what you plans are.”
Staithes lifeboat returned safely to Staithes at 4:20pm