Lifeguard equipment stolen from outside Port Talbot RNLI

The container, which contained an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and other vital lifeguard equipment, was forced open shortly after 11pm last night, Tuesday 30 August.  A member of the public was passing the lifeboat station at the time of the break-in and tried to stop the group; unfortunately he was injured as a result of this.  The injured man immediately phoned the police who alerted the RNLI volunteers.  As the volunteer crew arrived at the station the man was still outside; he was immediately given first aid treatment by the RNLI volunteers.

Robert Steele, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor said:

‘Last night a container storing RNLI lifeguard equipment outside Port Talbot lifeboat station was forced open and a member of the public, who tried to stop the break in, was injured in the process.  An all-terrain vehicle which is used daily by the RNLI lifeguards was stolen as a result of the break in. This will not affect the charity’s safety service on Aberavon beach this week.  The lifeguards will continue to provide a daily safety service to members of the public until the end of the summer service which comes to the end this Sunday.’

‘All the team at Port Talbot RNLI would like to send our best wishes to the person who was injured whilst trying to help last night.’

If anyone has any more information about the break-in outside Port Talbot lifeboat station last night, contact South Wales Police on 101.

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For more information contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Press Officer on 01745 585162 / 07771 941390 or email [email protected].

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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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