Abandoned rucksack on Gorran Haven beach sparks coastguard search

A rucksack and a pile of clothes on an empty beach. Nobody nearby, nobody in the water, and half an hour gone by. What would you do?

One person at Gorran Haven picked up the phone and dialled 999. And that call set a search in motion on Friday afternoon (30 October).

A hasty search of the beach

The Mevagissey Coastguard team were paged at 3.04pm to reports of a rucksack and clothing found on Little Perhaver beach.

The caller said the items had been there for at least 30 minutes. No one had been near them, and they couldn’t see anyone in the water.

The team carried out a hasty search of the beach and the surrounding area.

They were about to push further afield, and request extra support from the lifeboat and potentially the helicopter, when someone was spotted swimming around the headland from the direction of Great Perhaver.

Everyone home safe

Once the swimmer reached dry land, the team confirmed the items were theirs and that there was no one else in the water.

Mevagissey Coastguard described it as a good result, with everyone going home safely. The team also said the person who called 999 did the right thing in raising their concern.

Before you go in the water

The team’s advice for anyone heading into the sea:

• Make sure you’re prepared.
• Ideally, don’t go in alone.
• Make sure someone ashore knows where you are and what time you’ll be back.

The Mevagissey team say they remain on call 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies on the coast.

📷Credit: Mevagissey Coastguard