Moelfre RNLI Volunteers Save Woman's Life.
Moelfre RNLI volunteers were tasked Saturday (11/06/2022) by H.M.Coastguard that a female on a paddle board was struggling in the strong offshore wind in Benllech Bay. The Inshore lifeboat (ILB), with three crew members onboard launched at 4:35 pm and made good speed towards St David’s Park.
Once on scene, an eagle-eyed crew member spotted the casualty who was wearing swimwear approximately 500 metres offshore after falling off the paddle board and then attempting to swim back to the beach. The distressed casualty was recovered from the water onto the ILB; The casualty care trained RNLI lifeboat crew were concerned about the casualty’s well-being and decided that the best course of action was to pass her on to the North Wales Ambulance Service (NWAS) to be further monitored for secondary drowning.
NWAS could not immediately respond to the rescue, so the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 936 was requested to assist the RNLI and mobile Coastguard teams in providing the casualty with further medical assistance. Penmon and Moelfre Coastguard teams cleared a landing site for Rescue 936 and assisted in getting the casualty from the ILB onto the helicopter.
The paramedic aboard the helicopter assessed and treated the casualty before releasing her to the care of friends and family.
All assets were then stood down to be made ready for their next call to service.
RNLI Helm Martin Jones (Bonty) said, “It’s important that if you get into difficulties on a paddle board, you should remain with your craft and not attempt to swim back to shore. Also, ensure that a paddle board leash or SUP leash is always used and always wear suitable clothing and flotation device”.
What is secondary drowning? Water entering a casualty’s lungs can cause the lungs to be irritated, which can make the air passages swell hours after a casualty has been rescued from the water. This is very serious and can result in death.
For further information, please contact Phil Williams, Moelfre Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07773 979910
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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