Two kayakers had to be plucked from heavy seas by after getting into difficulties in gale force winds in Falmouth bay on Monday.

The alarm was raised at 2pm on Monday after members of the public spotted a red distress flare off Mainporth Beach.

Coastguards at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Pendennis Point drafted in both Falmouth RNLI volunteer crewed lifeboats to respond the alarm and both lifeboats launched shortly after 2:15 pm.

An RNLI spokesman said: “After a rough crossing of Falmouth Bay the lifeboats arrived on scene at 2:27 pm. The bridge watch crew on a tanker moored in the bay indicated to the Lifeboat crew where the casualties were, as they could not be seen from sea level.

“One of the kayakers was soon spotted clinging to his kayak. He and his kayak were quickly recovered by the crew of the Inshore Lifeboat, and they learned from him that there was another kayaker.”

He said that a search was then carried out by the all weather lifeboat and a rescue helicopter called in from RNAS Culdrose.

“Within five minutes the second person was spotted in the water and, whilst the all weather lifeboat stood by, the man was winched from the water by the crew of the helicopter. The lifeboat then recovered the man's abandoned kayak.

The inshore lifeboat headed for the Helford River to calmer water and as both men were suffering from mild hypothermia it was decided to get them to hospital as soon as possible.

The rescue helicopter flew met up with the inshore lifeboat and winched the other casualty aboard. By 3pm both casualties were on their way to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske.

The kayaks were transported back to the RNLI station in Falmouth Harbour and both RNLI boats were then washed down, refuelled and were ready for service again by 3:50 pm.

The RNLI spokesman said: “The lifeboat crewmen reported that both kayakers were experienced and well equipped but conditions in the bay were extremely poor with gale force winds and a heavy sea running.

“The red distress flare that the kayakers fired was seen by a number of people and reported to the coastguard, and the prompt action of the bridge crew of the tanker Cape Daly ensured that the lifeboat men got to the casualty as quickly as possible. The teamwork of all involved, the public, the coastguard, the tanker crew, the rescue helicopter and the volunteer lifeboat crews ensured that this incident did not have a tragic end.”

The crew of the inshore lifeboat for this mission were, Dave Nicoll, helmsman, Andy Jenkin and Jonathan Hackwell and the crew of the all weather lifeboat were Mark Pollard, coxswain, John Blakeston, David Proud, Snowy Angove, Tom Bird, Neil Capper and Josh Beardmore.