Aberdyfi RNLI lifeboat crew called out during Remembrance parade

A call came in shortly after 11am.

Leaving the service discretely, the crew swiftly launched the station's Atlantic 75 class lifeboat Sandwell Lifeline to go to the aid of a yacht that had run aground on a sandbank on the approaches to the estuary. Two persons were taken aboard the lifeboat and attempts were made to free the vessel but she was found to be firmly aground. The sailors were brought back to the station and the lifeboat crew returned to secure the yacht.

Later in the day the lifeboat was relaunched to recover the boat onto a mooring. Faced with some surf conditions and the failing light the crew took the vessel under tow and returned to the harbour where the yacht was secured to one of the visitor moorings.

David Williams, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Aberdyfi RNLI, said: 'The crew would like to apologise for having to run out of the Remembrance Service and wish to pass on our respect to all of those who have dedicated their lives to the service of others and especially to those who paid the ultimate price.'

Notes to editors:

The image attached shows Aberdyfi RNLI's Atlantic 75 class lifeboat alongside the aground yacht.

RNLI media contacts:

For more information please telephone Dave Bowen, Aberdyfi RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 01654 767352 or 07703 317771 or dave@davebowen.co.uk or Eleri Roberts, RNLI Media Relations Manager in Wales on 01745 585162 or 07771 941390 or eleri_roberts@rnli.org.uk or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen, Carrybridge and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

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