Criccieth RNLI Lifeboat rescues kite-surfer whilst on exercise
On Thursday the 8th of September, 2016 volunteer crewmembers from Criccieth’s RNLI Lifeboat station rescued a kite-surfer after coming across him and his kite by chance.
The Station’s Atlantic 85 Lifeboat, Doris Joan, had launched into heavy seas earlier in the evening and had made its way towards Porthmadog fairway buoy at the mouth of the Glaslyn estuary to undertake some rough weather handling training. Shortly after arriving a crewmember spotted a drifting kite-board. Presuming that the board’s owner would be nearby and possibly still in the sea , the lifeboat began conducting a search of the area.
The crew spotted the casualty some distance away from the boat and in clear difficulty. The lifeboat recovered the kite-surfer and after completing a series of medical checks landed him safely ashore along with his equipment. Other members of the kite-surfing party already ashore were getting increasingly concerned about his safety and were preparing to call the emergency services when it became apparent that chance, and eagle-eyed crew members, had come to their friends rescue.
Following the rescue, Criccieth Lifeboat Operations Manager, Peter Williams commented “The kite-surfer was incredibly lucky to have been spotted by the Lifeboat’s crew. Had he been in the water much longer, his chances of survival would have been slim given the failing light and heavy sea conditions. This is the ninth life saved by the Criccieth lifeboats this year.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Criccieth Lifeboat Press Officer, Ifer Gwyn on 07554445316
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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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