Port St Mary RNLI launched its lifeboat yesterday afternoon after two kayakers were caught out by fast running tidal currents off Langness.
The alarm was raised at 4.15pm on Monday (May 25) when a member of the public dialled 999, with the kayakers later also contacting the Coastguard.
The volunteer crew reached the scene within five minutes and located the pair, who had launched from Derbyhaven but were unable to make progress once they left the shelter of the bay.
Both were safe and well. Lifeboat crew issued them with lifejackets and brought them back to Derbyhaven by 4.50pm, where Coastguard officers carried out welfare checks.
The lifeboat returned to station, refuelled and was ready for service again by 5.30pm.
Andy Mulhern, Operations Officer with Isle of Man Coastguard, said: “We would like to thank the member of the public who made the call. Getting caught out by tidal conditions can happen quickly, so it’s important to check conditions and plan your route before heading out.
“We would remind anyone heading out on the water to always check the weather and tide times, understand local currents, carry a means of calling for help, ideally a VHF radio, and always wear suitable flotation devices.”
The RNLI echoed the safety message, noting that even in calm conditions tidal currents around the island can be stronger than expected.
