Porthcawl RNLI - A Year With Many Changes but Where Essentials are Maintained
Porthcawl lifeboat crews have responded and launched on 28 occasions to call outs since lockdown was introduced on 23 March. Volunteers have maintained their vital roll of launching to those in distress around our shores whilst following RNLI and Government guidelines during the pandemic.
Our ‘normal’ operations have changed during 2020. At Porthcawl we had to suspend normal exercising on Wednesdays and Sundays once lockdown came into effect but some on-line training was successfully introduced. One thing that did stay the same was that we still responded to requests to launch made by UK Coastguard.
During the lockdown period RNLI statisics for the year 2019 were released and once again Porthcawl was the busiest lifeboat station in Wales with 100 launches, 10 lives saved and 123 people aided.
Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthcawl, Philip Missen MBE said, ‘Not once have our volunteers waivered from the need to launch when alerted by our pagers. I am very proud of their support and that of their families throughout and to me last year’s statistics demonstrate their dedication to protecting the public who use our sea and beaches around Porthcawl and the Vale. To be recogonised for having saved ten lives last year just makes me realise how the impact could have been so different for the families of those ten.
This year we celebrate the 55th anniversary of the re-opening of our station and plans were in place back in February to launch a special festival of fund raising. However, like many, our plans were cancelled which has caused serious concerns in terms of covering the cost of RNLI operations here and nationwide.
We encourage members of the public to follow our website http://www.porthcawl-lifeboat.co.uk for sea safety messages and updates of our rescues etc.
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.