Penarth's RNLI crews in Sully Island Exercise

Visitors to Sully Island saw at first hand the force of the incoming tide this weekend as part of a multiagency exercise. Three highly trained RNLI lifeguards, and two training mannequins were placed on the causeway just as the tide was starting to cover the rocks. Within a short period of time the mannequins were washed away, and the three lifeguards swept away into the strong currents. Both of Penarth's lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, were on standby to rescue the volunteers and recover the mannequins. In addition one lifeguard was winched by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187, and returned to the beach at Sully. This joint exercise also involved the coastguard rescue officers from Penarth and Barry, coastguard officers from Milford Haven, the national coast watch group from Nell's Point NCI and the South Wales Police drone unit.

Arranged chiefly as a combined exercise, visitors to the beach could be left in no doubt how quickly the tide comes in to cover the causeway - and the speed the 'casualties' were carried off by the tide.

Jason Dunlop, lifeboat operations manager for Penarth Station, said:'today's exercise demonstrated great partnership working, and showed how forceful the incoming tide is on the causeway. We used highly trained RNLI lifeguards as casualties, who were well equipped and well trained. People finding themselves trapped on the island should never attempt to make their way back across the causeway.'

For further information please contact Andy Berry, Penarth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07951 051128 or Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [email protected]

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