Port St Mary RNLI launched on Monday after reports that two kayaks were in difficulty at the back of Sugarloaf Rock, off the southwest coast of the island.

At 7:17pm, Belfast Coastguard paged the volunteer crew and at 7.30pm Port St Mary RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Spirit of Leicester was launched under the command of Richard Leigh, soon followed by the all-weather relief Trent class lifeboat Dora Foster McDougall, coxswained by Michael Keggen.

With a light north-westerly wind and slight seas, both lifeboats proceeded to the area around Sugarloaf Rock, where they located the two kayaks, each with two people onboard.

After establishing that the four people onboard were safe and well, and that they were not in fact in difficulty, both lifeboats returned to Port St Mary and were ready for service again by 7.55pm.

Helm of the inshore lifeboat Richard Leigh said: ’Although this time it was a false alarm with good intent, we wish to thank the passer-by for raising their concerns, and if you ever see anyone in difficulty then please call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.’

Lifeboat operations manager Sarah Keggen added: ’Even as we approach the end of the summer it is important to remember to wear a life jacket at all times when on the water, and to take a form of communication with you.’