
Barry Dock RNLI celebrates the arrival of its newest potential volunteer
Barry Dock RNLI volunteer crew member Gerwyn Macey and his wife Zoe have welcomed their newest edition, Llewellyn David Macey, born on 23 December 2024 at 9.15am, weighing 8lbs 15oz.
Gerwyn, who has been a volunteer crew member at Barry Dock RNLI for two years, plays a vital role in keeping the coastline safe. Combining his skills as a Geospatial Analyst with his commitment to saving lives at sea, he serves as Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) crew, trainee ILB navigator, trainee All-weather Lifeboat (ALB) crew member, and casualty carer.
At just 2 weeks old, Llewellyn paid his first visit to Barry Dock Lifeboat Station with his dad and sister, giving mum Zoe a well-earned rest. Gerwyn said: 'With Llewellyn arriving so close to Christmas, Zoe was determined not to spend Christmas Day in hospital. Thankfully, both Zoe and Llewellyn came home on Christmas morning, which was the best Christmas present for me and our daughter, Manon. She’s three and a half and very excited to have a baby brother!'
He added: 'We missed the family Christmas meal at Zoe’s parents this year, but they saved us a few plates, which we enjoyed later on Christmas Day, along with the traditional Christmas crackers! It was the first proper hot meal we’d had in a few days, so it was a real treat. Christmas was pretty full on, to say the least!'
Andy Gavan, Coxswain at Barry Dock RNLI, said: 'We all send many congrats to Zoe and Gerwyn. The RNLI is all about community and family, so we are thrilled to welcome Llewellyn as an honorary member of the team.
'Gerwyn is dedicated to our lifesaving work, and we’re sure Llewellyn will grow up inspired by the incredible example set by his dad and we will hopefully see him and his sister on the crew one day!'
In his time as a volunteer, Gerwyn has attended many shouts, including one where children were rescued from a semi-submerged inflatable pool drifting out with the tide. Reflecting on the incident, Gerwyn said: 'It could’ve been a completely different outcome if we weren’t there or if somebody hadn’t spotted them and called the Coastguard.'
Gerwyn admits that being a parent brings these moments even closer to home: 'You can't help but picture your own child in those situations—it makes the importance of what we do feel even more personal.'
Gerwyn is always ready when the pager goes off, even if it coincides with bath time for Manon and Llewellyn.
Notes to editors:
Barry Dock Lifeboat Station has been saving lives since 1901, and in July 2024, the station opened its new state-of-the-art facility.
Barry Dock Lifeboat Station operates an all-weather lifeboat and an inshore D-class lifeboat, providing search and rescue services along the South Wales coast.
For further information, please contact:
Lisa Newberry, Lifeboat Press Officer, Barry Dock Lifeboat Station, 07977 922889.
Alternatively, contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager, at [email protected] or 07977 728315, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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.