Two Jet Skiers saved by Porthdinllaen RNLI Lifeboat

The alarm was raised by a member of the Jet skiers family who were on the beach at Bwlch, Morfa Nefyn and who had noticed that they were unable to see the jet skiers in the bay.

With the fun run having just been started by Nefyn Golf Club at 11:30 am, the crew's pagers went off at 11:31 am, with the boat launched within seven minutes.

Immediately after launching, and with the weather deteriorating, it was confirmed that there were two persons on the jet ski and were last seen heading towards the vicinity of Porthdinllaen point. Within less than five minutes of launching and a quarter of a mile off Porthdinllaen Point, the jet ski was spotted, and with assistance from Porthdinllaen Coastwatch lookout, one casualty was located in the water nearby. After safely bringing the 20-year old Female onboard, Porthdinllaen Coastguard team confirmed that they had sighted the second person, a 17-year-old male, half way up the mast on the Perch, a nearby isolated danger mark.

With the All-Weather Tamar Class Lifeboat unable to get near to the Perch due to the exposed rocks, the lifeboat's on board rescue Y craft was deployed with two crew members on board and made headway towards the second casualty. The crew skilfully managed to get the Y craft near enough to the Perch, for one crew member to disembark and climb up to the casualty, to reassure and assist him in descending down the pole and safely on board.

With both casualties safely on board the All Weather Lifeboat, they were assessed by first aid trained crew members, with the lifeboat returning back to her station and immediately rehoused. After initially been checked over by the crew, and as a precautionary measure, one of the casualties was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd to for a medical assessment due to the effects of the cold and ingress of sea water.

The Lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service by 1:45 pm.

Dylan Thomas, Porthdinllaen RNLI Press Officer added “Both of the jet skiers were wearing flotation aids, and luckily were quickly spotted and retrieved to the warmth of the lifeboat. We would like to thank both the Porthdinllaen Coastwatch Team and Porthdinllaen Coastguard Team for their assistance today, with the three teams working alongside, and ensured a positive outcome”.

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.

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