On Wednesday 24 September, Llandudno’s inshore lifeboat launched following a 999 call reporting a paddleboarder in difficulty off Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay.
A volunteer crew of three launched swiftly and made their way to the reported location. While en-route, the first informant updated HM Coastguard, stating that the casualty appeared to be on their board but not moving.
On arrival, the lifeboat crew quickly located the object in question. What had initially been thought to be a paddleboarder was, in fact, a semi-submerged tree trunk measuring approximately 7–8 metres, drifting further offshore than first reported. The incident quickly ‘branched out’ from a potential rescue into the removal of a navigation hazard. Llandudno Coastguard Rescue Team worked with the original caller to confirm that this was indeed the sighting.
Given the size and position of the object, the RNLI crew deemed it a potential hazard to navigation. It was nothing to ‘leaf’ unattended, so they secured a tow and brought the trunk safely back to Colwyn Bay beach, leaving it above the waterline with the ebbing tide to prevent danger to passing vessels.
Although the incident turned out to be a false alarm with good intent, it highlights the importance of public vigilance.
Speaking after the callout, an RNLI spokesperson said:
"We always encourage people to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see someone in trouble at sea. On this occasion, the call was made with the very best of intentions, and it allowed us to remove a significant hazard that could have caused serious damage to a vessel. We would always rather launch to a false alarm than risk someone not calling for help."
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
