Criccieth RNLI Lifeboats save two at Black Rock Sands
At 9.30pm on Saturday the 12th of August, 2017 volunteer crew-members from Criccieth’s RNLI Lifeboat Station were called to Black Rock Sands following reports of walkers stranded on a sandbank.
It had been reported that 5 persons had been cut off by an incoming tide. The Station launched both lifeboats immediately. On arrival, a crewmember was placed on the sandbank and reported that three persons had been able to swim ashore, but that two others were unable to do so due to the distance and fast flowing water; both were placed aboard the Station’s Atlantic 85 Lifeboat before being transferred to the inshore rescue boat and taken ashore on the main beach into the care of Criccieth’s UK Coastguard team. The UK Coastguard’s search and rescue helicopter also attended the incident.
Following the incident, Criccieth’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Peter Williams stated; ‘the two persons saved were very fortunate; the sandbank was quickly being covered by the tide. Thankfully the crew had launched and were on scene within minutes, otherwise the consequences could have been tragic. In the last 18 months we saved 20 people from the sandbanks around Black Rock Sands and I again urge those walking in the area to take note of tide times’.
The call represented the 13th incident attended by the Atlantic 85 Lifeboat this year and 6th for the inshore rescue boat.
ENDS
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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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