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Simultaneous shouts to paddleboarders for Tenby’s lifeboats

Lifeboats News Release

Both of Tenby’s lifeboats were requested to launch, but to separate shouts, just after 2pm on Sunday 25th May, following reports of paddleboarders in difficulty.

RNLI/Ben James

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The inshore lifeboat was first to launch and proceeded the short distance around to the area off the lifeboat slip after paddleboarders reported they were unable to get back to shore in the strong south westerly breeze.

Luckily, local fishing vessel ‘Seren y Mor’ had spotted the paddleboarders, who were now a mile offshore and stood by until the lifeboat got to them.

With the casualties and their boards now aboard, the lifeboat dropped them back ashore, before being tasked to the same shout as the all-weather lifeboat had gone to.

The all-weather lifeboat was already on scene with the other set of paddleboarders, who had got into difficulty in a strong onshore breeze off Freshwater East, six miles west of Tenby. The paddleboarders had been blown onto the rocks by the strong breeze.

The Y-boat was launched and went into the rocks, but due to the size of the sea swell, it was deemed unsafe to attempt to rescue the paddleboarders and with no other way to get them off the rocks, a Coastguard rescue helicopter was requested.

A short while later, the helicopter was overhead, and a crew member was lowered onto the rocks to make contact with the casualties and check they needed no medical attention. They were then winched into the helicopter, before being taken back to the safety of Freshwater East beach.

All units, including the inshore lifeboat which had been re-tasked after their previous incident, were then stood down to return to station.

RNLI/Ben James

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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.

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About the author

Ben James
Lifeboat Press Officer, Tenby Lifeboat Station

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