The casualty, who had some experience of bouldering, had attempted to climb the rough cliff face before getting stuck halfway, about fifty metres high. The cliffs at Southerndown beach are made up of a mixture of soft and hard rock, making it quite unpredictable and difficult to climb. Dafydd gave the casualty some safety advice whilst he called for the coastguard to rescue him from the tricky location.
Two Coastguard Rescue teams arrived on scene, one from Barry and one from Llantwit Major, and they abseiled down the cliff to the casualty. The uninjured casualty was then returned to the beach and received health checks and safety advice from the agencies that were present.
Make sure you respect the water and head to a lifeguarded beach this summer, where trained professionals will patrol from 10am to 6pm each day until September. Always read and obey the safety signs, which are usually found at the entrance to the beach. These will help you avoid potential hazards on the beach and identify the safest areas for swimming.
Matt Childs, South Wales Lifeguard Supervisor said:
‘It is important for climbers to be properly equipped with safety equipment and to carry a means of calling for help, in case they find themselves in trouble. If you see anyone in trouble on the coast or you get into difficulties yourself, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.’
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.
