Woman Winched From Rocks at Remote Cove Near Porthcurno

She was stranded on rocks between two of Cornwall’s most beautiful coves, with the tide and a stiff easterly wind for company. What happened next involved a helicopter, two coastguard teams and the Penlee lifeboat.

The Call Out

Penlee RNLI was tasked at 3:15pm on Thursday 23rd April to help Coastguards reach a woman stranded on rocks at St Loy’s Cove, the secluded stretch of coastline between Lamorna and Porthcurno.

The all-weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen launched straight away under the command of Coxswain Amy Smith, with Mechanic Andrew Wood and four RNLI volunteers on board.

A Team Effort From Sea and Sky

With the casualty cut off on the rocks, the rescue called for coordination between several services. The lifeboat held position offshore to provide visual and communication support while teams worked to reach her from the cliff path.

Amy said: “The lifeboat stood off to provide visual and communication support for the coastguard rescue teams and helicopter. There was great work securing the casualty by the Land’s End Coastguard Search and Rescue Team supported by Penzance Coastguard Search and Rescue Team and a swift winch of the casualty by the helicopter from rocks up to the path. Great team work by all.”

Conditions at the time were clear, with a force 6 easterly wind and a moderate sea.

📷Penlee Lifeboat arrives back at Newlyn - Credit: RNLI/Philip Monckton