BUDE Coastguard Rescue Team responded to a call requesting assistance in the search of a high risk, missing 25-year-old man, in the Crooklets to Summerleaze area of Bude, on Sunday.

The casualty was in need of medical attention, had fled from paramedics and was last seen on Summerleaze Downs. Crews from Bude Coastguard Rescue Team were paged at 21.22pm on Sunday, August 20.

From a rendezvous point in Summerleaze car park, the team formed two search parties and began searching the Summerleaze area, when word was heard that the casualty had been seen near Bencoolen play park.

With Hartland Coastguard Search and Rescue Team also now on scene, the search was moved inland toward the rugby club, along the canal and through the cycle paths.

One Bude team drove to Rodd’s Bridge and proceeded on foot back towards Bude, while the other team searched inland along the cycle path.

The Hartland teams were redeployed to Helebridge to search back along the canal and cycle paths. A police dog unit was also used around the rugby club area, and the duty senior coastal operations officer arrived on scene shortly after the search had began. All helicopters were fog-bound, so unable to provide assistance.

At approximately 11.30pm, just as the first Bude search team were completing their tasking, they spotted the casualty on the far bank of the Upper Wharf, holding onto railings and leaning backwards over the water.

Already donning a water rescue lifejacket, one of the team was attached to a floating line and waited bankside should he be required to enter the water whilst waiting for the police to attend the casualty.

Fortunately, this was not required, and the police successfully moved the casualty to a safe location, where he was then assessed for medical attention.

The teams were stood down at 12.06am.

Bude Coastguard Rescue Team reported on their Facebook page: “Water rescue and inland deployment are areas where coastguard rescue teams are being increasingly tasked. The incident clearly illustrates the benefits of being able to rapidly deploy multiple teams with excellent local knowledge.”