Kayaker in difficulty requires assistance from St Davids RNLI volunteers

Launching at 1:48pm, the charity’s all-weather lifeboat made its way in choppy seas to the kayaker who had launched from Whitesands for Gesail Fawr. Walkers on the coast path spotted the kayaker in difficulty and called the Coastguard. RNLI North Pembrokeshire lifeguards from Whitesands beach launched a jet ski and stood by until the lifeboats arrival.

Once at the scene, the daughter boat was deployed to recover both kayak and kayaker to the all-weather lifeboat Norah Wortley. Following assessment, the casualty was declared fit and well. The lifeboat then journeyed to Whitesands, where the kayaker paddled back ashore from just outside the surf line. Crew and lifeboat returned to the station, with Norah Wortley back ready for service at 2:50pm.

This rescue was recently qualified Michael Phillips’ first rescue launch as deputy coxswain.

John Williams, St Davids RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘The seas around St Davids Head can be treacherous so it was fortunate that onlookers spotted the kayaker and called for assistance. Partnership working with Whitesands beach lifeguards enabled a swift and happy outcome, and I’d like to congratulate Michael on his first successful launch as deputy coxswain.’

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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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