Very muddy Sunday morning for Conwy RNLI and North Wales Coastguard Rescue Teams
The volunteers at Conwy RNLI were joined by three UK Coastguard Rescue Teams this Sunday morning (2nd July), on the mud banks of Conwy Quay, for a large scale joint exercise and familiarisation with mud rescue equipment.
The volunteer Coastguard Rescue Teams from across North Wales, based at Rhyl, Penmon and Bangor mustered at the RNLI lifeboat station shortly before 11am to commence the planned exercise and briefings with the specialist Coastguard mud rescue equipment. This was prior to moving down towards the public jetty outside the Liverpool Arms pub on Conwy Quay.
Also present at the scene of the exercise to witness were RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, Peter Rooney and the UK Coastguard area manager for our area.
With the tide safely at a low level and dropping all the time, various scenarios were simulated in using RNLI volunteers as ‘casualties’ and they were all successfully completed, albeit getting a bit muddy in the process!
On hand to assist at the water’s edge and to get a first-hand view was the RNLI lifeboat The May-Bob and her volunteer crew of three.
The exercise was a great success and invaluable to all involved. Joint Lifeboat Press Officer at Conwy, Alan Flood says “The multi-agency exercise was invaluable to our station and highlights the dangers that people face when stuck in the mud. We urge anybody who takes part in activity near or around the water’s edge, to respect the water.”
Conwy Quay attracts thousands of visitors each year, and with the mud banks exposed in between tides, it’s very easy to get stuck. In recent times there have been a few instances of people getting into difficulty. The tide comes in at a rapid pace here at Conwy and this exercise highlights the worth of specialist rescue equipment and also teamwork with our colleagues at the Coastguard.
If you see anybody in trouble in the mud, tell them to stay calm and call 999, asking for the “Coastguard”. Reference is made to the RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign, details of which can be found at http://www.respectthewater.com/.
Photos attached (in order):
- Muddy rescue continuing with RNLI lifeboat in the background.
- Team photo of all personnel involved in the exercise.
- Coastguard Rescue Team with their specialised equipment.
- Teams being briefed.
- RNLI volunteer being ‘rescued’ from the mud watch by the rest of the teams and public.
- Debrief.
Ends.
Notes to editors
- Conwy lifeboat station has been operating since 1966.
- To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/conwy
- [email protected]
RNLI media contacts
- Danny-Lee Davies, Conwy RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07999321639
- Alan Flood, Conwy RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07871505513
- Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer (Wales and West) on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162
- Alternatively contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
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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