Three paddleboarders rescued by Porthdinllaen Lifeboat
On Saturday, three paddleboarders were rescued off the Pen Llyn coastline after being caught in strong offshore winds
Porthdinllaen`s all-weather lifeboat was tasked by UK Coastguard to reports of three paddleboarders stranded on Maen Mellt Rock near Whistling Sands beach. The area is renowned for fast flowing tides and dangerous currents. The lifeboat launched at 4:20pm with its complement of volunteer crew, and made headway towards the area that the casualties were sighted.
Upon arrival on scene, the lifeboat crew launched their on-board rescue Y-boat, crewed by two crew members to retrieve the paddle boarders off the isolated rock, back on-board to the safety of the all-weather lifeboat. After being checked by the casualty care trained crew member, they were transferred to the care of the Aberdaron Coastguard rescue team on the beach at Porth Iago. The three paddleboarders dressed in wetsuits, had been able to call the Coastguard for assistance on their mobile phone, and that was carried in a waterproof case.
Owain Williams, Coxswain of Porthdinllaen Lifeboat said: 'The RNLI volunteers were able to assist the three casualties make it safely ashore, but would like to remind the public of the dangers of paddle boarding in offshore winds and also, of the importance of always wearing a lifejacket and have a means for calling for help if needed. As always we extend our thanks to Aberdaron and Porthdinllaen Coastguard teams who were also on scene.'
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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