
Horton and Port Eynon RNLI rescue seven people on Worms Head in Storm Éowyn
On Saturday (25 January 2025) at 11.17am, the volunteer lifeboat crew from Horton and Port Eynon RNLI launched their lifeboat following a report of two people in the water, and others stranded on Worms Head Rhossili, who were cut off by the incoming tide.
The students were checked over and then taken on board the lifeboat so they could be taken back to Rhossili. The lifeboat had to make four separate trips because of the number of people and sea conditions.
The students were extremely grateful to the crew and said they could not believe that all the crew were unpaid volunteers. The volunteer crew of the lifeboat were Stuart Payne, Jon Tarrent and Jermey Littlejohns.
Jon Tarrant said:
‘This was a challenging rescue. The swell was up to 2m and the rise and fall of the water presented difficulties in picking up the people and also returning them to shore at Rhossili. It was also a rough passage to and from Horton to Worms Head.’
Lawrie Grove, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Horton and Port Eynon Lifeboat Station said:
‘I would remind people when walking on or near the coast to make sure that they check local tide times and plan walks accordingly.
‘Never try to to swim or wade to shore when cut off by the tide, it is extremely dangerous. The causeway at Rhossili that leads to Worms Head is usually open 2 ½ hours either side of low tide and the times it is open are displayed near to the causeway.
‘Sometimes the causeway will close earlier when high winds accelerate the incoming tide. You should take a means of communication with you and, if you find yourself in difficulty or see someone in difficulty on or near the coast, phone 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’
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Alternatively you can contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or 07977 728 315, or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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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