Barrow lifeboat called out to 'save' unsuspecting fisherman

The RNLI’s volunteer crew from Barrow Lifeboat Station launched its inshore lifeboat on Tuesday morning to reports of a person thought to be at risk from tidal cut-off off the coast of Walney Island.

The request for assistance came through from the Coastguard at 10:42am following a call received from a member of the public.

A spokesperson from Barrow Lifeboat Station said: "They were concerned for a person observed to be standing in the water a long way from the shore on the west side of Walney Island."

Volunteers from Roa Island responding to the call (Image: Barrow Lifeboat)

The crew was subsequently paged and the inshore lifeboat, ‘Raymond & Dorothy Billingham’, was launched at 11am with Jonny Long leading the rescue, assisted by two crew members Paul Wilcock and Fraser Livesey.

"The lifeboat reached the scene off Earnse Bay some 30 minutes later and quickly located the person," the spokesperson explained. 

"It transpired that the person was fishing and after the crew spoke to him, they were satisfied that he was aware that low water was fast approaching and that he would soon need to make his way back to land once the tide had turned."

Despite it becoming apparent that the rescue attempt was not necessary, the lifeboat team said: "We are grateful to the member of the public who made the call to the Coastguard as it is always better to err on the side of caution.

"The lifeboat made its way back to Roa Island where it was rehoused by the waiting shore crew and made ready for the next call-out."