Kitesurfer stuck on offshore rocks rescued by RNLI lifeguards at Langland

The charity’s lifeguards working at Langland Bay, Gower, spotted the man in trouble at rocks known as Crab Island, on the east side of the bay, at about noon on Saturday (18 June).

In windy conditions and an incoming tide, the man’s kitesurfing lines had become snared and he was unable to free himself from the rocks, which become submerged on higher tides.

RNLI senior lifeguard Sophie Phillips and fellow lifeguards Hamish Addey and Kieran Hennah spotted the man in difficulty and Hamish immediately paddled out to the rocks on a rescue board to assist.

After helping free the kitesurfer from his harness and tangled lines, lifeguard Hamish brought him back to the safety of the shoreline on the rescue board.

Rob Steele, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, said: ‘Luckily the man was unharmed and was able to walk away from this incident.

‘We would urge anyone visiting the coast this summer to always visit a lifeguarded beach, where fully trained lifeguards are there to provide safety advice and assistance when required, and swim between the red and yellow flags.'

Safety tips and advice on kitesurfing and a range of other water based activities are available at the RNLI’s Respect the Water website at http://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water/activities/Pages/activities.aspx.

RNLI lifeguards in the Swansea area are providing a daily safety service at Langland, Caswell, Port Eynon, Three Cliffs Bay and Aberavon Beach. On 2 July RNLI lifeguards will also return to Swansea Bay. Lifeguards are on duty daily between 10am and 6pm.

Notes to editors:

The attached is a stock picture of RNLI lifeguards in Swansea (credit RNLI).

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].

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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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