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Both of the RNLI lifeboats at Rhyl kept busy.

Lifeboats News Release

The Bank holiday Saturday 29 April kept the volunteer crews of both of Rhyl's lifeboats involved in rescues.

Rhyl inshore lifeboat taking casualty into Rhyl harbour.

RNLI/Rhyl lifeboat

Rhyl ILB and casualty 20190429
The afternoon of the Bank Holiday Saturday had been calm at Rhyl, until the tide turned and started flooding (coming in). Unwary visitors to the beach were getting surrounded on sandbanks as the gullies filled up behind them. Holyhead coastguard co-ordinating centre received numerous 999 calls regarding people getting cut off by the incoming tide. The inshore lifeboat crew were paged twice in an hour after 3pm, to go and assist many people from the sandbanks, returning them safely to the main beach. All people were informed of the tidal conditions so they could be aware if they were in a similar situation again.
The tides this weekend were neap tides, meaning they were smaller and so the tide did not come in as fast, so many people could exit the sandbanks before they became completely cut off.
The all-weather lifeboat was also paged at 4.40pm, to go to the aid of a broken down rigid inflatable boat some seven miles off Rhyl in the vicinity of the windfarms. The boat was found some twenty minutes after launching, and it was agreed with the coxswain of the lifeboat, that the only way to remedy the situation, was to tow the casualty back to Rhyl. Once the boat was in the entrance to the harbour, the tow was taken over by the inshore lifeboat, to enable the lifting bridge to stay open to pedestrians. Both lifeboats returned to station by 7pm.
Coxswain Martin Jones said ' with regard to the people being cut off by the tide, the local coastguard team have published safety information to assist those going to the beach to have a safe and happy time. The boat that broke down did the right thing by contacting the coastguard for assistance'.
Track of Rhyl Inshore lifeboat all day 29 April 2023

RNLI/Marine Traffic app

track of Rhyl ILB
track of all-weather Rhyl lifeboat to broken down boat

RNLI/Marine Traffic app

Rhyl AWB service call

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

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.