Aberystwyth and New Quay RNLI night time search for person in the water
At approximately 10.30pm on Tuesday (21 March) the volunteer crew of the Aberystwyth RNLI launched to search for a person in the sea off North Beach Aberystwyth.
The stations Atlantic class lifeboat Spirit of Friendship was launched after a request from UK Coastguard who had received a report from a member of the public who had seen a person going into the sea.
New Quay RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge was also tasked shortly afterwards at 10:40pm to assist in the search and provide cover should the weather deteriorate.
Once on scene Aberystwyth lifeboat crew launched a number of parachute flares to illuminate the bay and begin the search. The Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter from Caernarfon was requested to join the search along with the Aberystwyth and Borth Coastguard Rescue Teams.
After nearly two hours at sea at approximately 12.20am the Aberystwyth volunteers requested a crew change due to the cold and wet conditions and to ensure that the freshest eyes available were taking part in the search.
Meanwhile the New Quay RNLI lifeboat primarily searched the sea area between Aberystwyth and Clarach in choppy conditions.
After a thorough search of the area including a full saturation of the area by the Coastguard Rescue helicopters infrared camera, and with nothing found it was decided to stand all search teams down at approximately 1.20am.
To date there have been no further reports of a missing person.
For the New Quay RNLI crew, the request to launch came after an evening training exercise and it was a case of the crew having to turn out almost immediately after getting to their homes.
Lifeboat Operations Manager at New Quay, Roger Couch, commented: 'I was very pleased with the attitude of the crew. After a busy evening on exercise I had no trouble in mustering volunteers for the search, they were unable to get to bed much before 4am and they all had jobs to go to next morning. The dedication of RNLI crews is second to none.'
RNLI media contact
For more information please contact Paul McCann Aberystwyth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07787 785614, Glyn Griffiths, New Quay RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press
Officer, on 01545 561285 or
[email protected] or 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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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