Swift response by Rhyl RNLI volunteers saves man in Rhyl harbour entrance
The UK coastguard via Holyhead Centre, paged the Inshore lifeboat at Rhyl for an immediate launch after they had received 999 calls about a man, fully clothed, entering the water by the rock groynes marking the entrance to the harbour.
The pagers were activated at 7.12pm on Monday 18 September.The crew launched the lifeboat within five minutes of the pagers sounding, and were on scene about four minutes later. There was some confusion regarding the actual incident, but a small fishing boat called the coastguard on their radio to report the man was on the rocks to the west of the groyne, near to the End Perch, where the river Clwyd runs deeper. Local coastguard volunteers were also alerted to this incident, to search from the shore.
The crew arrived on scene just as the man entered the deep fast-flowing water, and disappeared from their view for a moment. Luckily, the man resurfaced, and a crew member entered the water to assist him. The casualty was successfully hauled on to the lifeboat and rushed back to the boathouse, arriving some five minutes later. Ambulance personnel and police were at the boathouse to assist the crew and the casualty. The man was given casualty care, and handed over to the ambulance.The boat was made ready for service by 7.55pm.
Martin Jones, Rhyl coxswain says ' The crew acted swiftly and efficiently, and because of their efforts, they were able to prevent the man from drowning'
Attached photos are copyright Paul Frost MBE/Rhyl RNLI.
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