Barmouth RNLI volunteer crew launches to an inflatable dinghy swept out to sea
On Thursday 15 April 2021, inshore lifeboat, (ILB) Craig Steadman launched to a dingy drifting out to sea. At 2.31pm the pagers sounded, and the volunteer crew quickly assembled at the boathouse, to the report of a yellow dinghy drifting out to sea, with two children on board.
The dinghy was observed being swept out into the main channel, on the Fairbourne side.
In good visibility and slight seas, ILB Craig Steadman and her volunteer crew of Jacob Cleaver, Russell Courtney and Daryl James, at helm, launched straight out into Cardigan Bay.
The ILB crew located both children on the beach at Fairbourne and returned them to Barmouth safe and unharmed. Both children returned to the boathouse, with a parent, to thank the volunteer crew for rescuing them and made a donation to the RNLI.
On return to the boathouse ILB Craig Steadman was washed down and readied for service at 3.14pm.
Whilst the ILB was on its call out, a distressed 4 year old boy was brought to the boathouse after he was located on the promenade having become separated from his mother. He was looked after by the volunteer shore crew who gained information that was passed onto the community first responders and the harbour office, who were helping locate his family. The mother arrived at the boathouse and was reunited with her son.
Many of the calls the RNLI respond to every year involve inflatables and this is the main reason why the RNLI strongly advise against taking them to the beach. Inflatables are not designed for open water and it takes very little breeze for them to be swept out to sea, much quicker than you can swim or paddle back to shore. What may seem fun at first can turn into an extremely serious situation, in just a matter of seconds.
For more information please contact Sarah Radford Barmouth Lifeboat Press Officer on 07887492210 or Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer – Wales and North West on 07771941390/01745 585162
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.