Incident Date | 24-01-2026 |
| Launch Instruct | 21:18 |
| Lifeboat Used | ALB |
| Location of Casualty | Corbyn Head area. |
Launched following a ‘straight-to-launch’ request by Solent Coastguard station, intimating imminent life-threatening urgency.
The request followed reports to the police of a vehicle that had been swept into the sea at Corbyn Head, Torquay and that persons from the vehicle were in the water with one possibly not breathing.
Local coastguard intel warned us of hazards in the water including loose ropes (which can entangle and seize up propellors) amongst other debris.
Upon arriving at Corbyn Head and following more information obtained by emergency services on site, we were informed that the local Coastguard had located the car… it was stationary, vacated of any occupants, not in the sea, but on the inner carriageway of the road by Torre Meadow. Local Coastguard immediately instigated a search for driver and passengers.
Meanwhile, our ALB initially stood off in what continued to be rough seas offshore and remained on standby. The driver was soon discovered and confirmed there were no other occupants. As a consequence, we were stood down at 10:00pm and arrived back at station at 10:20pm.
Torbay Lifeboats 