RNLI lifeboat crews search after red flare sighting

The RNLI lifeboats were asked to carry out the search by The UK Coastguard who had received numerous sightings of the flare just off Aberystwyth. The Aberystwyth Coastguard Rescue Team volunteers were also tasked to carry out a shoreline search.

Aberystwyth RNLI's Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Spirit of Friendship was quickly on scene and fired a number of white flares to illuminate the area and coastline whilst carrying out a search pattern.

New Quay RNLI's all-weather Mersey class lifeboat Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge made its way to Aberystwyth where it joined the search further out to sea, carrying out a complimentary search pattern. The two lifeboats were also assisted by the Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon.

With deteriorating weather conditions and nearly three hours of searching, utilising night vision equipment, radar, infra-red and powerful search lights and with nothing found, the decision was made to call off the search as a false alarm with good intent.

New Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Roger Couch said: 'The New Quay crew were pleased we could provide support to Aberystwyth in this search, especially new crew member Oliver Edwards who was on his first ‘shout.'

Paul Williams, volunteer Helm from Aberystwyth RNLI said: 'We would always urge people to call the coastguard if they see a flare or any distress signal out at sea and if people have old flares they don’t want, we would ask them to dispose of them safely.'

RNLI media contact
For more information please contact Paul McCann Aberystwyth Lifeboat Press Officer on 07787 785614 or Eleri Roberts, RNLI Public Relations Manager 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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