RNLI lifeboats return to stations after Pembrokeshire search scaled back
Five RNLI lifeboats involved in a multi-agency search off the Pembrokeshire coast have returned to station after the search was scaled back by HM Coastguard.
Volunteer lifeboat crews from St Davids, Fishguard, Angle and Little and Broad Haven were told they could return to their respective stations at about 2.30pm today (Friday 29 April).
The lifeboats from St Davids and Fishguard resumed the search at 6am this morning in an area between St Davids and Strumble Head, along with Coastguard Rescue Teams and the Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter. Lifeboats from Angle and Little and Broad Haven launched in the late morning to extend the search area to St Brides Bay.
Lifeboats were first tasked to launch at 2.30pm yesterday (Thursday 28 April) to search for the crew of a fishing boat which hit rocks a mile offshore off Abereiddy beach and subsequently sank.
Five RNLI lifeboats were involved last evening, two all-weather lifeboats and an inshore lifeboat from St Davids and all-weather lifeboats from Angle and Fishguard. The search was stood down for the night at 9.30pm.
One person was taken out of the water and taken to hospital yesterday by HM Coastguard. Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed today they had sadly died.
Jim Phillips, Lifeboat Press Officer at St Davids RNLI, said: ‘Our thoughts are with all those involved at this difficult time.
‘Our volunteer lifeboat crews, working alongside the HM Coastguard Rescue Teams, covered a large area of sea in difficult conditions for more than 15 hours yesterday and today to search for the remaining missing person, but unfortunately they were not located.’
Media contacts:
For more information please contact Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [email protected] or the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789.
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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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