Burry Port RNLI crews New Years Eve call out for an injured jet-skier

The alarm was raised by one of the jet-skier's colleagues who rode back to Burry Port Harbour to call the UK Coastguard. The D class inshore lifeboat Diane Hilary was immediately launched, crewed by Darren Sheppard, Paul Mitchell and Luke Maliphant, made their way to the eastern end of Cefn Sidan beach, just over one mile from the boathouse. The casualty was quickly located and assessed to have a severe open fracture of his shin bone. In the meantime the UK Coastguard mobile unit, from Burry Port arrived on scene, further assistance was requested, and an NHS ambulance was dispatched to Burry Port.

The Atlantic 75 Lifeboat, Leicester Challenge II was prepared for launch, and two NHS paramedics were kitted out and transported to the scene by RNLI volunteers Lee Howells, Rob Davies and Paul Stewart. UK Coastguard also tasked the Coastguard Helicopter, Rescue 187 from St. Athan, although there was poor visibility and thick fog in the East Wales area. The NHS paramedics treated the casualty and prepared him for the airlift, while the Coastguard team prepared a landing site adjacent to the casualty.

Rescue 187 arrived through the gloom, landed, and the casualty was placed on board and transported to Morriston Hospital.

All crews returned safely to Burry Port.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Roger Bowen said afterwards: 'This was a great example of inter-service coordination between UK Coastguard Milford Haven, UK Coastguard Burry Port Unit and Rescue Helicopter 187, NHS paramedics and both RNLI Lifeboats stationed at Burry Port. Our best wishes go to the casualty for a speedy recovery from a serious injury'.'

The casualty had been thrown off his personal watercraft by a wave, and it had landed on top of him. Luckily he was with four friends who had pulled him to safety and raised the alarm for assistance, so their actions were important in making a successful rescue for the casualty.

To update the story, the casualty and his fiancé contacted us late on New Year's Day via our Facebook page to convey their gratitude to all who had assisted, so hopefully on the way to a full recovery.

RNLI media contact

For more information contact Alun Wells, Burry Port Lifeboat Press Officer on 07929 783239.

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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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