Eight rescues in six hours for local lifeboat crew

August 15, 2024

IN what is being described as one of the busiest days on record, Tenby’s lifeboat crews were called out eight times within a frantic six-hour period on Wednesday (Aug 14). The volunteer crews faced a series of challenging rescues, demonstrating their commitment and skill in responding to multiple emergencies along Pembrokeshire’s coast.

The first alert came just after 1:00pm when the Haydn Miller, Tenby’s all-weather lifeboat, was dispatched to assist two paddleboarders in distress off Stackpole Head. However, as the lifeboat made its way to the scene, a nearby vessel responded to the coastguard’s broadcast, safely retrieving the paddleboarders and returning them to Stackpole Quay.

Barely had the crew returned when, at 1:29pm, they were summoned again—this time to Broadhaven South, where a swimmer was reported to be in difficulty. As the lifeboat approached, it was confirmed that the swimmer had reached shore unaided, allowing the crew to return to station.

Less than an hour later, at 2:28pm, the lifeboat was called out for the third time, following reports of three people swept off the rocks at Manorbier. By the time the crew arrived, the swimmers had managed to get to shore safely, and no further assistance was required.

The fourth shout came just 45 minutes later, once again at Manorbier, where several swimmers were reported to be caught in a rip current. As the lifeboat crew prepared to launch, they were informed that local surfers had successfully rescued the swimmers and brought them back to the beach.

At 4:00pm, the fifth call of the day marked the first deployment for Tenby’s inshore lifeboat. The crew were tasked with searching for a missing five-year-old child last seen in the water off Castle Beach. Fortunately, as the lifeboat launched, the child was found safe and well.

The inshore lifeboat was quickly called into action again at 4:22 pm, following reports of a person in difficulty near St Catherine’s Island. Upon arrival, the crew were relieved to find that the individual had already made it ashore safely.

The seventh call came at 6:05pm, with the all-weather lifeboat dispatched to Manorbier Beach to provide casualty care for an injured person. However, as the lifeboat neared the scene, it was reported that the casualty had been taken to hospital by other means.

The eighth and final call of the day came at 6:12pm, marking the most serious incident of the day. The all-weather lifeboat was tasked to assist in a major search operation involving the Angle lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187, and multiple coastguard rescue teams. A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) had been activated, believed to be somewhere in the Milford Haven area. The search led to the discovery of an upturned vessel with three people in the water nearby.

The Tenby lifeboat crew acted swiftly, deploying two crew members into the water to assist with the rescue of the casualties. After a medical assessment, one casualty was airlifted to hospital, while the remaining two were brought aboard the lifeboat, warmed, and transported to Milford Haven, where paramedics were waiting.

The all-weather lifeboat finally returned to station at 9:45 pm, concluding an exhausting day for the dedicated volunteer crews. This day of high drama along Pembrokeshire’s coast highlights the essential service provided by Tenby’s lifeboats, whose crews remain ever ready to respond to those in peril at sea.