Girvan's volunteer lifeboat crews pagers were activated just after midday on Sunday 18th Feb with an immediate launch request from the UK Coastguard Operations Centre in Belfast.
As some of our crew were already at station carrying out training, Girvan's all-weather lifeboat 12-37 'Silvia Burrell' quickly launched and proceeded North, further information coming in provided more detail to our crew as to sightings of red distress flares and potentially kayakers in trouble.
The lifeboat crew carried out a detailed search from before Culzean to after Dunure with pur crew stopping and speaking with some kayakers and small fishing vessels along the way.
Further information relayed to us from Belfast Coastguard suggested another sighting of red flares a bit further inland near Ayr, happy that the coastline waters had been searched by ourselves, with the Coastguard Operations Centre and Coastguard rescue teams on the ground conducting further enquiries, Girvan Lifeboat was requested to stand down.
The lifeboat returned to Girvan harbour at approx 14:30 where it was washed, fuelled and made ready for service once again.
If you believe someone to be in genuine trouble on the coast or at sea always dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.