Angle All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch at 8:39pm on Tuesday night following a report of a distressed person shouting for help between the Valero Refinery and Pwllcrochan.
The lifeboat launched and was soon on scene, where the Y boat was deployed to search to the west, while the lifeboat began searching to the east. The crew were soon joined by the Police Marine Unit vessel M66 who also began searching.
Shortly after, crew on the All-Weather Lifeboat spotted some personal belongings on the cliff edge to the east of the refinery. The Y boat and M66 were immediately called over to investigate.
Due to the nature of the shoreline and steep drop, the crew of the Y boat were unable to land ashore to investigate the belongings, or get eyes on to see if there was anything else on the cliff edge. With this, the coastguard were updated and a plan made for St Govan’s and Tenby Coastguard Rescue Teams to attempt to access the belongings from the top.
Whilst stood off and waiting, the crew of the lifeboat noticed some movement near the items and shortly after a person appeared from the undergrowth. The Y boat returned in to attempt to engage with the person, which proved difficult.
The Y boat then returned to M66 to collect two police officers, and after an assessment of the area managed to land both ashore in an area that was traversable from the shoreline. The police officers then made their way up to the casualty and were able to slowly assist him back to the top of the cliff.
With the casualty secure on the coast path with police and coastguard officers, the Y boat was recovered and the lifeboat and her crew stood down with thanks. The lifeboat was back alongside her berth and readied for further service by 11pm.
Just under fivehours earlier, at 3:52pm the All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch following a call for assistance from a 48ft, 14 tonne yacht with 4 persons onboard suffering a fouled propeller off West Angle. With easterly winds of over 30kts, the yachts crew were unable to sail so had managed to drop their anchor.
The lifeboat launched shortly after and once on scene, the yachts crew recovered their anchor and a tow was passed. The lifeboat began towing the yacht with the intention to take them to the safety of Milford Marina, however with the conditions off the entrance to the marina making bringing the vessel alongside the lifeboat unsafe the decision was made to continue up river. Unfortunately, Neyland Marina confirmed they had no berths available for a yacht of that size, meaning the only option left to the crew was to tow the vessel to a mooring at Rudders Boatyard.
Once safely off Rudders, the vessel was placed into an alongside tow and secured to a mooring. With no further assistance required, the lifeboat and her crew returned to station, where she was readied for further service by 6:30pm.
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.
