Both St Davids RNLI Lifeboats launched following a sighting of a red flare
On Saturday August (26) at 10.30pm both St Davids RNLI lifeboats were tasked to a sighting of a red flare, also two kayakers near Abereiddy beach.
A vehicle was found in the carpark at Abereiddy which had a roof rack which would hold two kayaks.
A thorough search was carried out between Porthgain harbour and St David's Head using search lights, night vision goggles and FLIR (forward looking infrared) camera.
The all-weather lifeboat was searching approximately one mile offshore while the inshore lifeboat carried out inshore search into caves and inlets.
HM coastguard teams from St Davids and Fishguard searched from the coastal path, also in attendance were officers from Dyfed Powys Police.
The inshore lifeboat then found two kayaks on the sand in Porthmelgan, crew members went ashore and found a tent which was occupied by two persons.
They confirmed that they owned the kayaks and the vehicle at Abereiddy, but they had not fired any flares.
With this information and a thorough search of the area, all units were stood and the incident treated as a false alarm with good intent.
Both lifeboats returned to station arriving back at 1.30am.
RNLI media contact
For more information contact Jim Phillips, St Davids Lifeboat Press Officer on 07791 121039. Alternatively contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Public Relations Manager on 01745 585162 / 07771 941390 or email
[email protected].
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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