Busy Sunday for Mumbles and Horton & Port Eynon RNLI Volunteers

Just after midday, the pagers sounded for a fishing vessel in difficulty near Worms Head. The 30-foot, six-ton fishing boat was in a potentially dangerous position close to shore, with an outgoing tide, meaning time was of the essence.

The Mumbles All-weather Lifeboat was quickly launched and made best speed. Horton and Port Eynon RNLI's inshore lifeboat which was on exercise was also tasked arrived first on scene.

The Horton and Port Eynon crew ensured those on board were safe and well and remained alongside the casualty vessel, standing by to carry out an immediate evacuation should the situation deteriorate.

Worms Head is the furthest point of Mumbles RNLI's operational area and is regularly served by Horton and Port Eynon RNLI's inshore lifeboat, making joint responses in the area common.

On arrival, the Mumbles crew assessed the situation. As the vessel posed a risk to navigation in a busy stretch of water and was located in the hazardous waters between Daggers Reef and Worms Head, there were genuine concerns for the safety of the crew and other water users if it remained in position.

Following a discussion, the coxswain, in agreement with the crew, decided the safest course of action was to tow the vessel to Swansea - the most accessible port between Milford Haven and Cardiff.

The crew safely rigged a tow and began the 18-mile journey back.

The inshore lifeboat was then launched and met the all-weather lifeboat in Swansea Bay, taking over the tow for the final passage up the River Tawe and into Swansea Marina, where repairs could be carried out, and the casualty crew could take a well-deserved break after a long day on the water.

Andrew Edwards, Deputy Mechanic said, "The fishermen did exactly the right thing by calling for help early. We encourage anyone heading afloat to wear a lifejacket, carry suitable safety equipment and have a means of calling for help. You can find more boating safety advice at rnli.org/safety."

Later that evening, just as volunteer crew members were preparing for bed after a busy day, the pagers sounded once again.

This time, the crew were tasked following reports of a person crying out for help near West Pier at the mouth of the River Tawe. Given the nature of the reports and the possibility that someone may have entered the water, both the inshore lifeboat and the all-weather lifeboat launched and began a coordinated search of Swansea Bay and the entrance to the River Tawe.

Coastguard Rescue Helicopter Rescue 187 was also tasked, providing aerial support and using its thermal imaging equipment to assist the search effort.

The Mumbles RNLI's volunteer crews regularly train for search operations, learning how to accurately search large areas of water using a variety of search patterns. Those skills were put into action as the crews worked alongside other emergency services in an extensive search of the area.

Despite a thorough three-hour search involving lifeboats and the Coastguard helicopter, no person was located. The lifeboats were subsequently stood down, allowing the volunteer crews to return home and finally get some much-needed rest.

A crew spokesperson said, "The fisherman did exactly the right thing by alerting the Coast Guard. If you see or hear someone who may be in difficulty at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

The Mumbles RNLI's annual Raft Race takes place on Saturday 19 July, starting from Knab Rock at 12pm. The popular event raises vital funds to help support the station's lifesaving work.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Adam Gilbert, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for The Mumbles RNLI [email protected]

For Horton and Port Eynon Lifeboat enquiries, please contact Bryn Hurford (Lifeboat Press Officer) on [email protected].

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.