Llandudno RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched to an incident involving two people on Sunday morning (20/5) following reports that an angler had fallen into the sea from Llandudno's Great Orme headland.
Called out by Holyhead Coastguard at 0736 hrs together with Llandudno Coastguard the lifeboat crew launched shortly afterwards and made directly for the scene, off Pigeons Cave on Pen Trwyn. The casualty was quickly recovered from the water into the lifeboat which at once set off at full speed for the RNLI sea-front boathouse. In view of the casualty's condition the RNLI crew simultaneously radioed Holyhead Coastguard to scramble rescue helicopter Rescue 136 and a land ambulance to meet them on arrival at the boathouse.
As a result no sooner had the lifeboat been beached and the casualty brought ashore than the helicopter landed close by. Very shortly afterwards it airlifted the casualty to hospital. The lifeboat then returned to Pen Trwyn to rescue from rocks at the foot of the cliffs a second man who had earlier entered the sea to try to help the angler. This second casualty was extremely cold, and after being taken into the lifeboat was landed at the RNLI boathouse into the care of an ambulance crew.
After a final sweep of the sea round the cliffs to ensure there were no more casualties the lifeboat crew was stood down.
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.
