Inflatable kayak rescue at Abereiddy bay for St Davids RNLI
St Davids all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 3.50pm on Saturday 6th September to assist a kayak fisherman struggling in offshore winds in the Abereiddy bay area.
The charity’s Tamar class lifeboat was quickly on the water and arrived on scene by 4.20pm. St Davids Coastguard Rescue Team had arrived shortly before the lifeboat and spotted the casualty from the cliff top. The kayaker was approximately one mile offshore in south easterly winds gusting 38mph.
The volunteer crew brought the casualty on board and recovered the inflatable kayak. Alert and well but shaken by the ordeal, the kayaker was taken into the lifeboat wheelhouse to warm up and recover. The daughter boat was launched to take the casualty back to Abereiddy beach and the awaiting coastguard team.
St Davids all-weather lifeboat returned to the station and was prepared and ready for service by 5.30pm.
Will Chant, RNLI Coxswain for St Davids RNLI lifeboat, said: ‘The kayaker had been safe when close to shore but was caught out by the strong offshore winds once they went beyond the headland. This was a timely response, and excellent multi agency working prevented this from being a significantly harder rescue in the conditions.’
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For more information please telephone Simone Eade, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 804 922 or [email protected] or Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728 315 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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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