Abersoch & Pwllheli RNLI called-out following report of a person in the water
The volunteer crews from both lifeboat stations were paged yesterday, (Tuesday 27 April) by HM Coastguard along with the HM Coastguard helicopter.
Following a report of a man overboard at Carreg y Defaid between Llanbedrog headland and Pwllheli, the Abersoch and Pwllheli RNLI volunteer crews were tasked at 3.00pm yesterday (Tuesday 27 April). Both the Abersoch RNLI Atlantic 85 and Pwllheli RNLI D-class lifeboats were launched shortly afterwards.
On arrival at the scene one of the two casualties had managed to right the capsized 21 foot sailing boat, which had been hit by a squall, and both he and the pet dog were safely back on board. The second casualty had drifted towards the headland and was standing on a sandbank chest deep in water. Due to the limited depth of the water the crew of the D-class lifeboat retrieved the casualty from the sandbank and returned him to Pwllheli Marina where he was handed over to the waiting ambulance crew.
The crew of the Abersoch RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat then escorted the vessel back to Pwllheli where the D-class lifeboat met them at the harbour entrance and continued with the escort to the safety of the marina where the second casualty was also checked over by paramedics. Both casualties were treated for cold water shock. They, and the pet dog, sustained no injuries.
The sailing boat was equipped with appropriate safety equipment and both casualties were wearing lifejackets.
An RNLI spokesperson, said ‘This was excellent teamwork by the crews of both lifeboat stations in co-ordinating the safe rescue of the two gentlemen’.
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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.
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