Monday Mayday Call for Holyhead RNLI
A Mayday call from a kayaker in trouble led to an urgent response from the volunteer crew at Holyhead RNLI lifeboat station on Monday (August 21st).
HM Coastguard paged the crew just after 11.20am, after the kayaker got into difficulties just off Penrhyn Mawr in Holyhead bay, an area locally known as Sandy Beach.
The station’s inshore lifeboat was launched immediately, and sped to the location. On arrival, the crew found other vessels were already on scene assisting the casualty, who had fallen into the water while fishing from his kayak. A family from Manchester, sailing nearby, had managed to get the casualty onto their own craft, a 4.5m RIB
Holyhead coxswain Tony Price said the incident hadn’t escalated into anything worse due to the kayaker being very well equipped, and the fast actions of those in the area.
‘Luckily, despite the fact he’d been in the water for 15 minutes, he had the correct safety gear, including a buoyancy aid and a good working radio, which meant he had been able to issue the Mayday call himself. The good response from listening seafarers nearby also made a big difference, and he was safely returned to shore where his family were waiting.’
After checking on the wellbeing of the kayaker, the lifeboat towed his kayak back to the shore, and then returned to the station at 12.30pm where she was then made ready for service.
Key facts about the RNLI
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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