Kayaker cut off at Pedngwinian rescued by Penlee lifeboat crew

The pagers went off just as the crew were heading back into harbour. They had spent the afternoon watching over swimmers at St Michael’s Mount, and now there was someone stranded in a cove a few miles along the coast, with no way out and no phone signal.

Called out at 4pm on Saturday

Falmouth Coastguard tasked Penlee RNLI at about 4pm on Saturday 11 July 2026 to reports of a paddle boarder at Pedngwinian Point, on the stretch of coast between Porthleven and Mullion.

Penlee’s All Weather lifeboat, the Ivan Ellen, launched immediately under the command of Coxswain James Roberts, with Mechanic Amy Smith and a crew of six RNLI volunteers.

📷Credit: RNLI

A woman, two kayaks and a cliff climb

What they found when they arrived was not quite what had been reported. A woman was in a small cove with two kayaks. Her husband had climbed the cliff to find a phone signal so he could call for help.

James Roberts launched the lifeboat’s y-boat with crewmen Treve Perry and Matt Smith aboard. They recovered the woman first, then went back for the kayaks.

Reunited at Church Cove

With the woman and the kayaks safely aboard, the crew recovered the y-boat and took her round to Church Cove. The y-boat was relaunched a second time to put her ashore on the beach, where her husband was waiting.

The lifeboat had been on duty at the Round the Mount Swim at St Michael’s Mount earlier that day and was on its way back to harbour when the call came in.

📷Penlee RNLI recover kayaks - Credit: RNLI