During their usual Tuesday training on June 6th, Appledore Royal National Lifeboat Institution's volunteers were directed by the Coastguard to Westward Ho! Beach due to a reported offshore drifting inflatable. Three men had taken an inflated duck and a kayak into the sea, but quickly drifted about 75 meters out. Despite efforts by the kayaker to push them back, they continued to drift further.

The Coastguard was notified when they were approximately 200 meters offshore. A bystander promptly paddled out to assist and managed to tow the inflatable closer to the beach, enabling the men to swim ashore. However, the inflatable was immediately carried back out to sea. The lifeboat arrived as all the men reached shore safely. Crew member Des Elsemore swam in to check on them and praised the paddler's quick actions, dubbing him the real lifesaver of the day. After the incident, the lifeboats returned to their exercise.