Port Talbot RNLI lifeboat and RNLI lifeguards assist woman on pier

Port Talbot RNLI lifeboat was soon on scene and found the female about 12ft above the water line, sitting on the defences around the pier.

Port Talbot Coastguard Rescue Team were also on scene, together with the police and a cordon was put in place around the area to keep the number of people on the pier to a minimum.

Although the tide was at low water there was still quite a swell breaking over the end of the pier, so the decision was made for one of the senior volunteer crew on the lifeboat to get onto the pier for her safety.

As the sea was quite rough and to prevent damage to the lifeboat, the RNLI lifeguard team at Aberavon Beach, who had stayed on after their shift to help, brought their jet ski alongside the lifeboat.

The crew member then transferred onto the rescue sled and the jet ski took him into the pier where he managed to climb up to the female and ensure she did not skip or fall off the pier.

After some deliberation it was decided to call in The Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter 187 to airlift the woman off the pier and take her onto the beach. The helicopter's winchman was lowered and successfully took the female up into the helicopter and it landed on the beach.

The lifeboat crewman made his own way down to the beach and escorted the woman up to the station Land Rover further up the beach, talking and comforting her. She was then taken to the lifeboat station where paramedics assessed her and she was taken to hospital.

Other RNLI volunteer crew members were also involved in securing a landing site for the helicopter and keeping people off the beach. Once the rescue was over all services were stood down and returned to station.

Clive Morris, Port Talbot RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: 'This was a rescue involving both our lifeboat and the RNLI lifeguards and a number of other emergency services and it was carried out with a great deal of teamwork and professionalism.'

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Mel Cooper, Port Talbot RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07814 985057 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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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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