Three kite surfers became stranded at sea.

Lyme Regis RNLI launched its lifeboat yesterday (Wednesday) following a report of three kite surfers stranded near Charmouth after the wind dropped.

Lifeboat volunteer crew were asked to assist the coastguard with recovering the kite surfers, who became stranded after the wind subsided. 

The three men, all local and regular kite surfers, were an estimated mile from Charmouth when rescued.

A member of the public called the coastguard after watching the kite surfers and noticing that, when the wind suddenly dropped, they were left floating in the water.

The lifeboat launched at 5pm and the crew were quickly on scene. One of the kite surfers, who did not wish to be named, said: “Thanks to the lifeboat crew for picking us up, it would have been a very long swim to the shore otherwise.” 

It was the first shout for Dave Holland, one of the new volunteer crew members. He said: “It was great to be on the lifeboat and put some of the training to good use.”

The lifeboat and crew yesterday evening attended an RNLI fundraising event at Seatown where crowds watched the lifeboat training with the Rescue 187 coastguard helicopter.