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St Davids RNLI volunteer crew respond to Mayday of sinking vessel.

Lifeboats News Release

On Sunday (30 May, 2021) St Davids all-weather lifeboat was paged at 10.06am to a Mayday call from motor cruiser with two passengers on board who had found they were suddenly taking on water in the Whitesands Bay Area and sinking.

RNLI/Ellen Evans

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In an attempt to save the vessel and themselves they drove the boat into Pencarnan bay, and beached it on Porthsele Beach. Only just making it ashore, as the vessel had begun to lose power.

On arrival the vessel and casualties were on the beach, so the crew deployed the Y-Boat to investigate and see what assistance could be provided. The crew proceeded to help the casualties off the vessel and secure it safely to the shore.

As it was high tide at the time of incident the vessel was soon hard aground. With both casualties and boat safe ashore and St Davids HM Coastguard team on scene the lifeboat returned to station and was rehoused and ready for service by 11:45am.

The boat was repaired during the day and as the tide reached it yesterday evening it successfully re-floated.


RNLI/Ellen Evans

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RNLI/Ellen Evans

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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.

About the author

Ellen Evans
Lifeboat Press Officer, St Davids Lifeboat Station

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