Barry Dock RNLI assist distressed windsurfer off Cold Knap Bay

The crew were tasked by HM Coastguard at 4pm following concerns that the windsurfers were struggling to return to shore. When they arrived at the scene, the ILB crew found both casualties had made it to Watchtower Bay, where Barry Coastguard Rescue Team was also in attendance.

Two volunteer RNLI crew members went ashore to assess the situation. One of the windsurfers was safe and well and began recovering his equipment. The second casualty was visibly shaken and described how she had come off her board after realising how far offshore they were. She became separated from the board while in the water but remembered the RNLI’s ‘Float to Live’ advice.

She explained that she began to panic, fearing what was in the water after a conversation with a fisherman the previous day. An RNLI crew member remained with her, offering reassurance and support until she felt calm and safe, recognising that she had done the right thing by floating on her back to conserve energy.

Bill Kitchen, Barry Dock Lifeboat Operations Manager said:

‘If you get into trouble in the water, the RNLI’s advice is to Float to Live. Fight your instinct to swim hard - instead, turn onto your back, put your ears in the water and extend your arms and legs like a starfish. We know it’s hard but try to relax and control your breathing. Floating like this can save your life.’

With both casualties confirmed safe and all equipment accounted for, the casualties were left in the care of Barry Coastguard Rescue Team. Barry Dock ILB returned to station and was made ready for service.

RNLI windsurfing safety tips

• Carry a means of calling for help and keep it within reach
• Check your equipment for damage before use
• Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
• Check the weather forecast and tide times
• Wear a suitable approved buoyancy aid.

Never:

• Go alone
• Sail in offshore winds without safety boat cover
• Get on the water in conditions above your capability
• Ditch your board – it will help keep you afloat and make you easier to find
• Leave without a signalling or communication device.

Even when all the right precautions are taken, we know that things can still go wrong at sea. If you or someone else is in difficulty in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard – it could save a life.

END

Notes to editor - Key Information About the Barry Dock Lifeboat Station:

• Barry Dock Lifeboat Station has been saving lives since 1901, and in July 2024, the station opened its new state-of-the-art facility.
• The RNLI Visitor Experience, opened in 2017, was one of the UK’s first RNLI drowning prevention centres, focusing on beach safety education for families.
• Barry Dock Lifeboat Station operates as part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity that saves lives at sea.
• The RNLI provides a 24-hour search and rescue service across the UK and Ireland.
• Barry Dock Lifeboat Station operates an all-weather lifeboat and an inshore D-class lifeboat, providing search and rescue services along the Vale of Glamorgan coast.

For further information, please contact:

Lisa Newberry, Lifeboat Press Officer, Barry Dock Lifeboat Station, 07977 922889. Alternatively, you can contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or 07977 728315, or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.