Port Talbot RNLI diverted from a joint exercise with The Mumbles RNLI

It was an evening where months of planning had culminated in a joint exercise with The Mumbles RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Roy Barker IV and inshore lifeboat Hugh, Maureen, and Heather Pope, and Port Talbot's inshore lifeboat Craig Morris. All lifeboats were formatting in readiness when information was received that a swimmer was in difficulty and calling for assistance, with a first informant calling the Coastguard on 999.

Port Talbot RNLI Helm, Paul Skinner, diverted his attention to the immediate threat to life tasking, making best possible safe speed in calm and clear conditions across the bay to the Small Side Beach.

On arrival on scene, the casualty was being assisted out of the water by a member of the public who had heard the desperate cries for assistance and came to the aid of the swimmer.

Port Talbot RNLI crew advised the Coastguard that the casualty was safely out of the water, and were requested to dispatch casualty care trained crew members to carry out an assessment of any medical needs, due to the risk of secondary drowning.

Once all the casualty care checks were made using the RNLI check cards carried by all crew in their lifejackets, the casualty was found to need no further medical intervention. The Port Talbot RNLI volunteers were then stood down by the Coastguard, allowing them to restart their preplanned exercise.

Returning to the planned location of the exercise, crews were interchanged between the all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboats, so that crew had the opportunity to become more familiar with the different classes of lifeboats and working directly with fellow crew from flanking stations. Meaning crew can seamlessly work with their flank station crews.

The methodology of the RNLI's Operational Competency Framework is that all crew are trained in the same methods and to the same exacting standards required to save lives at sea.

The evening was also designed to exchange local knowledge, with the Port Talbot volunteer crew able to educate and instruct The Mumbles RNLI volunteer crews on the particulars of the River Neath and the Monkstone Marina. A valuable training evening for both stations, should The Mumbles ever be called upon to assist or stand in for Port Talbot RNLI entirely, or for crews to be exchanged on to each others lifeboats during rescue operations.

Clive Morris , Lifeboat Operations Manager, said:

'This was an incredibly important exercise and showed that crews can be seamlessly interchanged as operational needs dictate and that training plans merge effortlessly between flanking stations.

'It also showed how crews can plan for months and then immediately be diverted to imminent threat of life, then immediately back to training mode. A true demonstration of how professional our volunteer crews are.'

Once the exercise was complete our volunteers returned to their Aberavon Beach front where the lifeboat was recovered, refuelled, washed down and made ready for service.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Port Talbot RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Ceri Jeffreys on [email protected], or Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or 07977 728 315.

Alternatively, you can contact the RNLI Press Office on [email protected] or 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.