Mumbles RNLI lifeboat joins search at Aberavon

Due to the severity of the weather at the time, with gale force winds and a turbulent sea, Port Talbot RNLI's inshore lifeboat was unable to launch so The Mumbles all-weather lifeboat was tasked.

A search was conducted by the RNLI lifeboat in the gale force winds and heavy rain. Port Talbot RNLI lifeboat, crew along with Coastguard Rescue Teams, police and a Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter were called to search the shoreline but there was nothing found.

The Mumbles RNLI volunteer crew returned to station at 5.40am. The call is thought to be a false alarm with good intent.

Coxswain of the lifeboat Martin Double said 'We would always ask the public to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they suspect someone has gone in the water. The weather conditions were pretty bad with heavy sea and rain but our crew are trained for this and did a sterling job of conducting a thorough search in very difficult conditions'.

The Mumbles RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Tim Conway added: 'Gale force winds and heavy rain made this a difficult early morning call.'

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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