Porthdinllaen lifeboat in search for swimmer
Porthdinllaen all-weather RNLI lifeboat, the Hetty Rampton, was launched on Friday evening (1 July) to assist in the search for a reported person in difficulties in the sea off Trefor.
Holyhead Coastguard received an emergency call from a member of the public, reporting that a person was in difficulty in the sea off Trefor Pier and was in need of immediate assistance.
Porthdinllaen lifeboat was launched at 9.05pm along with the RAF Rescue Helicopter from 22 Squadron at RAF Valley. The lifeboat was on scene within 20 minutes and immediately started searching the area with the assistance of the helicopter.
It became apparent after a short while that there was nobody missing in the area, and that the call was an apparent hoax. The lifeboat and helicopter were stood down and returned to their respective bases.
Dylan Thomas, Porthdinllaen Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, says: ' To re-assure the public, RNLI lifeboats will respond to all requests for assistance, but what must be remembered is that the RNLI is a charity and depends on donations to maintain its rescue operations. Hoax calls not only cost the RNLI in money but also time that is given by our volunteer crews to man the lifeboats.'
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Dylan Thomas Porthdinllaen RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07747 600019 / dylan@thomas77.plus.com or Danielle Rush, RNLI Media Relations Manager (Wales) on 01745 585162 / 07786 668829 / danielle_rush@rnli.org.uk.