Port Talbot RNLI assist paddleboarder following injury at Aberavon Beach

Port Talbot RNLI volunteers had just completed a scheduled training exercise in Swansea Bay when they were tasked by the Coastguard to assist a casualty a short distance away. A paddleboarder was reported to have fallen from their board and was injured with a suspected dislocated knee.

Our station's lifeboat Craig Morris made best speed to the scene. On arrival our crew located the paddleboarder in shallow water close to the shoreline. Helm Carl Matthews made the decision to beach the lifeboat, which allowed the crew to quickly reach and assist the casualty. The crew administered casualty care, assessing the casualty’s injuries.

With the casualty now safely ashore, Port Talbot Coastguard Rescue Team were requested to attend and assist. Working together, the two crews safely extracted the casualty from the beach and carefully carried them to a family member's vehicle. They were taken to hospital for further assessment and treatment.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Morris said:

‘Our crew responded very quickly to this incident, arriving within minutes of the call being made. Thanks to their training in casualty care, they were able to administer immediate treatment to the casualty.

‘Working closely with our colleagues from Port Talbot Coastguard Rescue Team, the casualty was safely extracted from the location. Our crews train for all eventualities and this incident demonstrated the value of that training.

‘This was another excellent example of the lifeboat and Coastguard working hand in hand, highlighting the importance of multi-agency teamwork in achieving the best possible outcome. We wish the casualty well in their recovery.’

Remember to always carry a means of calling for help and wear an appropriate personal flotation device if you’re heading onto the water. If you are in difficulty or danger, or see anyone in trouble at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Em Williams, Lifeboat Press Officer for Port Talbot RNLI on 07793 063494 or [email protected].

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Communications Staff Member for RNLI, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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.

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