Aberdeen Lifeboat Crew Break Issolation to Assist Surfer

A lifeboat crew chief has issued a plea for people to stay ashore after being called out to assist a surfer during the coronavirus lockdown.

Aberdeen Lifeboat was called out by the Coastguard to help a surfer reportedly having difficulty with either getting back on his board or swimming ashore at Aberdeen beach at around 3.30pm.

When the crew of three arrived around 15 minutes later, they found the surfer on his board and in “no immediate danger”.

After speaking to the surfer, he made his own way ashore.

Bill Deans MBE, operations manager at Aberdeen Lifeboat Station, urged people not to put crews at risk by venturing into the sea.

He said: “Like most people, our volunteer lifeboat crew members are self-isolating at home in line with Government guidelines – mostly doing their day jobs remotely.

“But they are always willing to set aside their own concerns to respond if the call comes that someone is in danger at sea.

“There is no way a lifeboat crew of three can maintain two metre separation aboard a five-metre long lifeboat – and if they had required to pull someone from the water, the infection concerns are obvious to all.

“I have every sympathy with people who would like to use their daily exercise period to swim, sail, surf or whatever – but on behalf of every lifeboat crew member in the UK and Ireland, I have to appeal to them not to put our crews at indirect risk by going into or onto the sea.

“Stay safe ashore, protect the emergency services and save lives.”