Port Talbot RNLI lifeboat tasked to search for missing person

The male person, who was reported to be in a vulnerable state, had been reported missing earlier. The police had found his car parked close to the local council offices alongside the River Neath and there was no sign of him.

Due to the tide being at low ebb, the lifeboat was transported to the river by road and launched from the Monkstone Marina.

Local coastguard teams were also involved in the search along the river banks area together with the police helicopter overhead. The person. was eventually spotted by the lifeboat crew, using a handheld spotlight, attempting to hide himself on the river bank.

Two crew members were put ashore in very muddy conditions and found the person and he was escorted back along the river bank and handed over to the police.

The lifeboat then had to be recovered from a different part of the marina due to lack of water in the river.

Extra crew had to be deployed to the site to help recover the lifeboat through mud. All services were then stood down at 4am and returned to station.

Media Contacts:

For further information please contact Mel Cooper, Port Talbot RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 01639 894335 

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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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