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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hero Edinburgh RNLI crews race to 'kite-surfer in difficulty' at beauty spot
Hero Edinburgh RNLI crews were sent to rescue a kite-surfer in difficulty at a beauty spot. The RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat was sent to Pettycur Bay on Saturday, July 26, to undertake a search of the area. The team were made aware after participating in a demonstration alongside Kinghorn Lifeboat. The casualty was located just east of the No.8 channel market off Kinghorn Bay. READ MORE: Netflix viewers rush to watch 'compelling' BBC drama series set in Edinburgh READ MORE: Edinburgh's first 'queer cafe' announces closure as owners say 'this is only the beginning' They had been drifting out of the bay and unable to get their kite back up. The casualty was then taken back to where they had launched from at Pettycur Beach. A statement from RNLI Queensferry reads: "Queensferry Lifeboat and crew were visiting Kinghorn Bay to take part in Kinghorn RNLI Lifeboat Open Day celebrations on Saturday 26 July. "Just after participating in a demonstration alongside Kinghorn Lifeboat, UK Coastguard recieved reports of a kitesurfer in difficulty at Pettycur Bay. As Kinghorn Lifeboat had already recovered and Queensferry Lifeboat was in the area, the Queensferry crew were tasked to the incident. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "The lifeboat arrived on scene within minutes and undertook a short search of the area. The casualty was located just east of the No.8 channel marker off Kinghorn Bay. "The casualty had been drifting out of the bay and unable to get their kite back up. Volunteer crew recovered the casualty and kite surfing equipment to the lifeboat. The casualty was taken back to where they had launched from at Pettycur Beach and had been with a group of kitesurfers, who had raised the alarm."
Herald Sun
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Hopes for migrant deal as Macron wraps up UK state visit
London and Paris were working Thursday to thrash out a deal on undocumented migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats on the last day of the French president's state visit to Britain. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron posed for the cameras outside Downing Street, as they headed inside for a summit with senior ministers focused on that issue and other shared concerns. They include the volatile situation in the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine and a "reboot" of defence ties including joint missile development and nuclear co-operation. The two leaders agreed Wednesday that there was a need for a "new deterrent" to curb the small boat crossings. The issue has become a major headache for Starmer's year-old Labour government as support for the upstart anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars. The UK would tackle undocumented migration with "new tactics" and a "new level of intent", Starmer said in summit opening remarks, adding: "We will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is." A so-called "one in, one out" migrant deal, details of which were reportedly still being discussed, would see migrants sent back to France in return for the UK accepting a similar number of migrants with strong asylum cases. As the leaders met, the UK Coastguard said a number of the small boats headed to southeast England had been sighted in the Channel. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage meanwhile posted a video and photo on X from another boat showing the scene in the waterway between Britain and France -- one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Describing it as a "classic" scenario over the past five years when the sea was calm, he described seeing "about 70 people on board being escorted all the way over by the French Navy" with UK Border force "waiting for the handover". - Pomp and politics - The mooted migrant-exchange scheme, which has sparked "serious concerns" among some other European nations, could initially involve around 50 people a week, French daily Le Monde reported. More than 21,000 migrants have made the Channel crossing in rudimentary vessels this year alone. During a meeting with Macron on Wednesday, Starmer outlined his government's policies to tackle issues such as illegal working, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Illegal employment opportunities are one of the "pull factors" France claims has made the UK particularly attractive to migrants. Thursday's summit follows two days of events spanning pomp and politics, trade and culture for Macron and his wife Brigitte. The French first couple were welcomed on Tuesday by King Charles III and Queen Camilla with a horse-drawn carriage procession, a 41-gun salute and a banquet at Windsor Castle, west of London. - Ukraine focus - As part of a mooted defence agreement, the UK and France would order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles -- long-range, air-launched weapons jointly developed by the allies -- while stepping up work on a replacement system, the UK defence ministry said. The missiles have been shipped to Ukraine in significant numbers to help Kyiv in its war with Russia following Moscow's full-scale 2022 invasion. Starmer and Macron will also on Thursday dial into a meeting of the so-called "coalition of the willing" on Ukraine. Britain and France are spearheading talks among the 30-nation coalition on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces. Starmer's office said this week that the call would "discuss stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia". They will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to the French presidency. The state visit also saw Macron formally announce the loan of the famous Bayeux Tapestry, depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, to the British Museum for 10 months from September 2026 in return for a number of English treasures. bur-vl-har/jj Originally published as Hopes for migrant deal as Macron wraps up UK state visit
Observer
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Hopes for migrant deal as Macron wraps up UK state visit
LONDON: London and Paris were working on Thursday to thrash out a deal on undocumented migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats on the last day of the French president's state visit to Britain. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron posed for the cameras outside Downing Street, as they headed inside for a summit with senior ministers focused on that issue and other shared concerns. They include the volatile situation in the Middle East, continued support for Ukraine and a "reboot" of defence ties including joint missile development and nuclear co-operation. The two leaders agreed on Wednesday that there was a need for a "new deterrent" to curb the small boat crossings. The issue has become a major headache for Starmer's year-old Labour government as support for the upstart anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars. The UK would tackle undocumented migration with "new tactics" and a "new level of intent", Starmer said in summit opening remarks, adding: "We will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is." A so-called "one in, one out" migrant deal, details of which were reportedly still being discussed, would see migrants sent back to France in return for the UK accepting a similar number of migrants with strong asylum cases. As the leaders met, the UK Coastguard said a number of the small boats headed to southeast England had been sighted in the Channel. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage meanwhile posted a video and photo on X from another boat showing the scene in the waterway between Britain and France -- one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Describing it as a "classic" scenario over the past five years when the sea was calm, he described seeing "about 70 people on board being escorted all the way over by the French Navy" with UK Border force "waiting for the handover". The mooted migrant-exchange scheme, which has sparked "serious concerns" among some other European nations, could initially involve around 50 people a week, French daily Le Monde reported. More than 21,000 migrants have made the Channel crossing in rudimentary vessels this year alone. During a meeting with Macron on Wednesday, Starmer outlined his government's policies to tackle issues such as illegal working, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Illegal employment opportunities are one of the "pull factors" France claims has made the UK particularly attractive to migrants. Thursday's summit follows two days of events spanning pomp and politics, trade and culture for Macron and his wife Brigitte. The French first couple were welcomed on Tuesday by King Charles III and Queen Camilla with a horse-drawn carriage procession, a 41-gun salute and a banquet at Windsor Castle, west of London. — AFP
Daily Record
05-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Edinburgh RNLI rescue group cut off by tide at Cramond Island
RNLI crew in Edinburgh were dispatched to Cramond Island after reports of a group who had become cut off by the tide and were in need of help. Edinburgh lifeboat rescue crews raced to save a group of people who found themselves 'cut off by the tide'. The RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat rushed to Cramond Island on Sunday June 29 after receiving reports of individuals who had become stranded. This came just as volunteer crew were finishing up their annual open day. The lifeboat was retasked after arriving at the scene to Limekilns where children were stranded on the rocks - with that task a higher priority due to the flooding tide, reports Edinburgh Live. After they had ensured the children were safe, the crew returned to Cramond Island and took the group back to Cramond Village where they were met by local coastguard teams. An RNLI spokesperson said: "The initial tasking was to reports of three persons cut off by the tide on Cramond Island. The lifeboat was launched, and made way to the scene. "Upon arrival, UK Coastguard retasked the lifeboat to attend an incident at Limekilns pier where a number of children were reported to be stranded on rocks. As this was a higher priority tasking and a flooding tide, the lifeboat made best speed to Limekilns. "The crew found three paddle boarders as they arrived on scene. It was confirmed that these were the casualties initially reported by the first informant. The paddleboarders confirmed they were on the rocks earlier, and were safe and well. "Following this, the crew made their way back to Cramond Island to continue with the original tasking. Five persons were recovered from the island and taken to Cramond Village, to meet with local Coastguard teams. "The lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service again at 7.50pm." In a separate incident on June 24, we reported that two people had to be rescued by the RNLI after getting into difficulty in an inflatable kayak off the coast of North Berwick. The pair were caught in fierce offshore winds and began drifting dangerously out to sea, prompting a rescue operation by the North Berwick RNLI. Volunteers launched lifeboat SUNIJO just before 4pm on Tuesday June 24, after receiving an emergency call. Strong south-westerly winds created a serious risk, and the kayak users were unable to paddle back to shore. Coastguard rescue teams said the speed at which they were drifting meant they would not have been able to make it back safely without help. Working alongside the North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team and tour vessels from the Scottish Seabird Centre, RNLI crews located the duo and brought them safely back to land, reports EdinburghLive. RNLI helm Fraser Fulton issued a warning about the dangers of offshore winds, which are often underestimated. He said: 'Offshore winds are seen as a hidden danger at the coast. It may seem sheltered right inshore, but further out to sea the conditions are significantly different, with large waves and stronger winds that can be difficult to paddle against. 'We advise against using any inflatable, not powered by an engine, on the sea during offshore winds. Unfortunately in North Berwick, with the prevailing south-westerly winds, that is the majority of the time.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
12-year-old among three rescued after being caught in rip current
The incident happened around 2.40pm at Tyninghame Beach in East Lothian. The UK Coastguard paged Dunbar RNLI for assistance after a report of two people in the water. It soon transpired there were three individuals involved after the inshore D class lifeboat was launched 10 minutes later. The volunteer crew arrived at the scene 10 minutes later and found the trio had been helped by a local surfer but the family all needed medical attention. They had got into difficult after being caught in a strong rip current running out to sea and the assistance of the experienced surfer helped save them from any more damage. Read More Competitor in Jim Clark Rally dies in crash during Scottish Borders race One of the three was airlifted to hospital in the Coastguard helicopter, with the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland also in attendance. Dunbar RNLI helm Jamie Forrester said: 'When we arrived the casualties were all in need of medical assistance. One, in particular, was very unwell. We treated the casualties until the helicopter and ambulance arrived. 'Tyninghame Beach is notorious for strong rip currents, which are difficult to spot. This incident shows how easy a simple trip to the beach can turn serious. If it hadn't been for the swift actions of the experienced surfer, who was a strong swimmer, this could have been a very different outcome.'
