The primary job of all NCI Watchkeepers is to spot any vessel or person in difficulty or at risk, whether on land or at sea, and to immediately report the essential facts to HMCG. Serious incidents such as Loss of life, Serious injury, Collision at sea, Wreck or loss of a vessel, Fire causing major damage or Serious pollution might become the subject of a subsequent investigation and/or hearing in a court of law. Consequently, a formal reporting process exists to ensure that relevant information relating to these events is captured for future reference and/or action. Incident reports are raised if:

• Watchkeepers initiate a call to any emergency service (HMCG, Police, Fire or Ambulance) in connection with an accident or incident, and request their assistance
• Watchkeepers provide assistance to the emergency services in connection with an accident or incident, whether HMCG-initiated or not
• HMCG or the police provide an incident reference number for any event involving an NCI station.
• The Station Manager believes that there are lessons to be learned by NCI as a whole

The following incidents reported by NCI Gwennap Head over the last few years serve to give a ‘flavour’ of some of the events which our watchkeepers have become involved with during the course of their duties.

Abbreviations; CRT – Coastguard Rescue Team, GwHd – NCI Gwennap Head, HELO – Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, HMCG – His Majesty’s Coastguard, ILB/AWLB – Lifeboats, IOS – Isles of Scilly, MoP – Member of the Public, WK – Watchkeeper

21/10/2025	Yacht issued a May Day – taking on water. Vessel unsure of exact position. NATO warship offered assistance but casualty was too close to shore. HMCG asked GwHd for visual – affirmative, and exact , position supplied. GwHd asked to monitor, and be prepared to lifeboat LB onto casualty. AWLB tasked, located casualty and towed it back to harbour and safety.
14/08/2025	GwHd heard Mayday relay re. 4 kayaks in difficulty, 1 person in water. GwHd informed HMCG they had visual, and gave exact location.GwHd requested to monitor. AWLB tasked, and recovered what turned out to, be 6 casualties. HELO had been tasked but stood down. All safe.
18/05/2025	Canoeist phoned GwHd, reporting they (five ) were very fatigued, struggling against tide and unable to return to starting point. They had formed a raft for safety. HMCG informed, AWLB tasked and all , were recovered to start point safely.
01/04/2025	GwHd heard Pan Pan from a yacht anchored in rough seas, crew abandoning vessel for safety. No response from HMCG so WK issued a Pan Pan relay. HMCG tasked AWLB and Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team. Crew reached land and then returned to vessel when lifeboat was on scene. Casualty vessel then continued its journey, escorted by LB.
17/09/2024	Mayday broadcast from yacht which had become grounded on Runnelstone reef – broadcast location incorrect. GwHd contacted HMCG with correct position and reported Eyes On. AWLB tasked. GwHd observed life raft launched. Updated HMCG. AWLB recovered crew and, on high tide, the casualty re floated and was taken in tow
02/09/2023	GwHd heard message from fishing vessel to HMCG re. upturned kayak on rocks and person holding onto it. Subsequently updated to report kayak now in water, with person clinging on. Not visible from GwHd. AWLB tasked and HMCG requested GwHd monitor fishing vessel and lifeboat. Casualty recovered position and paddled to fishing vessel, and taken onboard. GwHd conned lifeboat onto fishing vessel, casualty transferred and returned to shore.
17/07/2023	Pan Pan from yacht with broken fuel line and leak. Casualty felt he was unable to reach safety due to weather. GwHd confirmed visual to HMCG. No vessels in area to assist. AWLB tasked and took vessel, under tow to harbour and safety.
10/07/2023	Large cargo vessel reported loss of engine power, and drifting towards Wolf Rock ligthouse. Two AWLB’s tasked. GwHd asked to monitor. Vessel ran aground, then refloated, but reported damage to ballast , tanks. HELO also on scene. Tug requested for a tow to harbour and lifeboats stood by until tow under way. GwHd then stood down.
08/07/2023	GwHd observed General Cargo ship drifting ‘not under command’ due to engine failure. IOS ferry contacted GwHd re. situation, and it was decided to inform HMCG. HMCG made aware and asked GwHd to monitor. Emergency crew on its way, and casualty dropped anchor. GwHd stood down, situation under control.
07/09/2022	HMCG tasked GwHd to maintain visual on fishing vessel with engine issues. The casualty appeared to regain some power, but was only making slow progress. AWLB launched and escorted casualty to Newlyn
17/08/2022	MoP reported to GwHd that they had seen body boarder swept out to sea. GwHd did not have visual, but informed HMCG. AWLB tasked, but casualty self-rescued before lifeboat arrived on scene. All assets stood down.
13/11/2021	2 MoP handed in to GwHd a bag containing syringes and controlled drugs found on beach. HMCG informed, HELIMED made arrangements to collect.
23/08/2021	MoP contacted GwHd – wife fallen and injured leg. WK attended, called HMCG. CRT and Air Ambulance tasked. Casualty treated by paramedic, then removed by CRT vehicle
09/06/2021	SART alert broadcast from local yacht. HMCG informed. HMCG investigated and alert proved to be false alarm
29/05/2021	MoP reported 2 kayakers in water. First casualty reached land but second was struggling. Out of sight of station and HMCG advised. HMCG then requested further info. Second casualty then reached land.  No further action
08/01/2021	Monitored and reported to HMCG on safe recovery by AWLB of fishing vessel caught in own nets. No casualties.
07/09/2020	Assisted Royal Marine team with injured cliff climber to call HMCG. AWLB. ILB, Cliff Rescue Team and HELO attended and casualty was winched and airlifted to hospital.
04/09/2020	Relayed call on Chan, 65 from capsized windsurfer to HMCG. Lifeboat launched to recover casualty.
27/10/2019	HMCG requested any observation of climber reported falling. Contact maintained with HMCG and ambulance crew during recovery of casualty.
16/07/2019	Reported fishing vessel on fire to HMCG. Monitored situation and updated as local fishing vessel and 2 lifeboats attended. Two crew rescued. Fishing vessel sank.