Porthcawl and Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat involved in gruelling night search
Volunteers from two RNLI lifeboat stations were called in to action in response to a member of the public reporting three people entering the water at night at Ogmore by Sea.
Porthcawl's Atlantic 85 and D class lifeboats were first launched into rough conditions and began a search of the area.
They were on scene for over two-and-a-half hours and requested the support of Barry Dock RNLI's all-weather lifeboat due to the deterioration in weather during the search.
Barry Dock RNLI's lifeboat Inner Wheel 2 launched at 9.38pm to join the search alongside Llantwit Major And Porthcawl Coastguard Rescue Teams, South Wales Police, UK Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter based at St Athan, the Welsh Ambulance Servie's HART team and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Inner Wheel 2 arrived on the scene to search an extensive area along the south Wales coast from Nash Point in Llantwit Major, to Ogmore river, near Bridgend. Conditions were considered poor with swelling at around 2m as marine flares were fired to assist in searching for the three swimmers late into the night.
The search was called off as the UK Coastguard were satisfied that the area had been saturated by all rescue units as no further reports of persons in the water other than the initial call.
Lifeboats returned to their respective stations.
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Steven John Harry, Barry Dock RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07456 070389 or Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.