Teenagers rescued after becoming lost in poor visibility conditions

The teenagers, who were at sea for about five hours, raised the alarm by mobile phone not long after they left Peffer Sands, between Whitekirk and Auldhame.

As the weather closed in on the trio, they were unable to locate the shore.

A spokesman for the RNLI told the Courier that the teenagers, who are not thought to be from East Lothian, had only a mobile phone and no other navigation or safety equipment on board the speed boat.

Gary Fairbairn, Dunbar RNLI coxswain, said: “When Aberdeen Coastguard asked us to assist you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.

“Because the casualties had little idea where they were, we started a standard search pattern with help from our inshore lifeboat, and another boat that was in the area at the time, the research vessel Alba na Mara.

“We were firing off flares hoping they might be seen by the casualty – and eventually, as our search patterns continued, the research boat found them. They had been at sea for about five hours.

“We took the three young people on board the lifeboat and towed the speedboat back to Dunbar.

“This incident underlines once again what a dangerous place the sea is – especially for the unprepared.

“Conditions off the coast can change very quickly and I appeal to everyone heading out for enjoyment to take advice on conditions and make sure you are prepared with adequate and operational safety equipment so if things go wrong you can cope.” That came after the inshore lifeboat was launched last Wednesday evening.

The volunteers received a call at about 5.20pm after reports of two kayakers in trouble off Dunbar East Beach.

The call to Aberdeen Coastguard said one of the kayakers had been hit by a wave and knocked overboard.

Once the RNLI crew was launched it made its way to the kayaker, who had managed to get back into the kayak but lost their paddle.

The second kayaker then tried to find the paddle while heading back towards shore.

The ILB secured the first kayak alongside and transferred the casualty on-board and proceeded back to Dunbar Harbour.

Just before entering the harbour, the crew and casualty were joined by a small pod of porpoises playing in the waves.

The teenagers, who were at sea for about five hours, raised the alarm by mobile phone not long after they left Peffer Sands, between Whitekirk and Auldhame.

As the weather closed in on the trio, they were unable to locate the shore.

A spokesman for the RNLI told the Courier that the teenagers, who are not thought to be from East Lothian, had only a mobile phone and no other navigation or safety equipment on board the speed boat.

Gary Fairbairn, Dunbar RNLI coxswain, said: “When Aberdeen Coastguard asked us to assist you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.

“Because the casualties had little idea where they were, we started a standard search pattern with help from our inshore lifeboat, and another boat that was in the area at the time, the research vessel Alba na Mara.

“We were firing off flares hoping they might be seen by the casualty – and eventually, as our search patterns continued, the research boat found them. They had been at sea for about five hours.

“We took the three young people on board the lifeboat and towed the speedboat back to Dunbar.

“This incident underlines once again what a dangerous place the sea is – especially for the unprepared.

“Conditions off the coast can change very quickly and I appeal to everyone heading out for enjoyment to take advice on conditions and make sure you are prepared with adequate and operational safety equipment so if things go wrong you can cope.” That came after the inshore lifeboat was launched last Wednesday evening.

The volunteers received a call at about 5.20pm after reports of two kayakers in trouble off Dunbar East Beach.

The call to Aberdeen Coastguard said one of the kayakers had been hit by a wave and knocked overboard.

Once the RNLI crew was launched it made its way to the kayaker, who had managed to get back into the kayak but lost their paddle.

The second kayaker then tried to find the paddle while heading back towards shore.

The ILB secured the first kayak alongside and transferred the casualty on-board and proceeded back to Dunbar Harbour.

Just before entering the harbour, the crew and casualty were joined by a small pod of porpoises playing in the waves.