Angle RNLI launch to locate and assist two young girls cut off by the tide

The lifeboat launched shortly after and arrived in Crow Pool by 10.45pm. The lifeboat's inflatable Y boat with two crew onboard was deployed and began making their way up the river. Using a 'what3words' location passed on by HM Coastguard, the crew were able to proceed straight to their last known position.

Once on scene, the crew caught a glimpse of the girls phone lights amongst the darkness. With the tide flooding fast, the casualties had retreated into dense woodland.

The Y boat put a crew member ashore to guide both causalities to the boat, and once fitted with lifejackets both girls were taken onboard and transferred the short distance up to the Mill Pond Barrage and handed over into the care of Dale and St Govan’s Coastguard Rescue Teams, the Fire Service and the Police.

Once complete, the Y boat transited back down the river and was recovered by 11.30pm. The crew were then stood down to return to station, and the lifeboat was back alongside and readied for further service by 11.45pm.

The day before at 11.52am on Tuesday 12 August, the crew were tasked to assist five paddleboarders in difficulty off West Angle Beach. With a strong offshore breeze and outgoing spring tide, the casualties had found themselves being taken rapidly towards Thorn Island.

Once launched, the crew received an update that multiple vessels had responded to the Coastguard's broadcast for assistance and that four of the five casualties had scrambled onto the south side of Thorn Island, whilst the fifth person was in the water clinging to the rocks.

Once on scene, the lifeboat found all five persons now out of the water on the rocks. The lifeboats inflatable Y boat was deployed and began to recover them all onto the all-weather lifeboat. Once all onboard and being assessed as not requiring any medical assistance, the casualties were transferred ashore safely at West Angle and left in the care of St Govan’s Coastguard Rescue Team and their family. The Y boat was recovered and the lifeboat was back alongside her berth and readied for further service by 1.30pm.

On Thursday 7 August at 6.14pm, the crew were tasked alongside Tenby RNLI's all-weather lifeboat, Tenby, St Govan’s and Dale Coastguard Rescue Teams, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R924 and the Ambulance Service, to a male climber fallen from Saddle Head, on the west side of St Govan’s.

The lifeboat made best speed to the area but with the swell too significant to get ashore, the crew stood off whilst the casualty was assessed and winched off by the helicopter. With no further assistance required the crew were stood down and returned to station at 9pm.

Two days prior, on Tuesday 5 August at 4.56pm the crew received an immediate tasking to assist a capsized dinghy off Garron Pill, with one person on the upturned hull.

Due to the seriousness of the situation, a mayday relay call had been broadcast for any vessels to assist. Multiple pleasure vessels responded alongside the Milford Haven Harbour Patrol vessel. As the crew began making best speed to the area, an update was received that the Harbour Patrol was now on scene and had recovered the person. With no medical attention required and no persons outstanding the crew were stood down to return to station and the lifeboat was back alongside her berth by 5.30pm.

RNLI Media Contacts
For more information, please contact Davey Barrett, Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or 07972 937299.

Alternatively you can contact RNLI Regional Communications Manager, Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, on [email protected] / 07977 728 315. For out of hours enquiries please contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789.