Teens stranded on Millport island planned to come ashore 'on yoga mat'

Teenagers stranded on an island in Millport were rescued after attempting to come ashore on a yoga mat.

Largs RNLI crews were requested to attend Millport Bay after the Coastguard had received 999 calls reporting a group of four teenagers stranded on the outer Eilean Island on Wednesday.

On arriving in the area, the lifeboat crew spotted a female swimming back to shore. On approaching her, she advised that she did not require any assistance.

The four teenagers were then spotted, and a crew member was sent ashore to talk to them and ascertain what the issue was.

A crew member was told by the teens they were going to use a yoga mat to assist them getting ashore, but it was then decided that the safest option was to take all four on board and transfer them to shore.

A statement read: “With the wind picking up speed, all four agreed and were then transferred back to Millport Pier, where they were landed safely.

“With all safe ashore, the lifeboat was released to continue on its exercise before returning to station and being made ready for the next call out.”

In another incident on the same day, crews were requested to launch at 3.25pm on Wednesday to assist a jet ski with a single occupant being blown offshore at the south end of Largs.

The casualty was found to be without a buoyancy aid and wearing thin clothing. When he was taken on board the lifeboat, he was found to be uninjured but extremely cold.

A statement added: “Due to the easterly winds, the jet ski was quickly drifting towards the main shipping channel, and due to the risk to other shipping, the helm decided to take the jet ski under tow.

“The casualty and jet ski were then taken ashore and handed over to the care of the local coastguard rescue team.”