Early morning call-out for Port Talbot RNLI lifeboat
The lifeboat was launched at 3.58am on Wednesday 11 December after the coastguard received an emergency call.
The call came from a 20 foot vessel with two men and a dog on board which had engine failure. The area given was not far from the lifeboat station but when the lifeboat arrived on scene and searched the area nothing was found. The search was then extended to cover the areas of Morfa beach and the Kenfig patches using flares and searchlights but again nothing found. Eventually the coastguard pinged the callers mobile phone and the area where they were was established as Rest Bay close to Porthcawl.
At this point both Porthcawl's lifeboats were launched to assist with the search, again using flares and searchlights. Eventually the vessel was found aground at Rest Bay. The Port Talbot lifeboat was soon on scene and found the vessel with the two men on board who were suffering from severe hypothermia. First aid treatment was started and the lifeboat was joined by local coastguards.
The decision was then taken to refloat the vessel and the Porthcawl lifeboat towed it to the harbour, which was the closest point to the area. There they were met by coastguards and paramedics and the two men were treated by them. Port Talbot lifeboat then returned to station and was back in the boathouse by 8am.
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.