RNLI lifeguards and Little and Broad Haven lifeboat crew have saved a young family who were caught in strong cross-winds and washed onto the rocks off Broad Haven beach this afternoon.
A family from Hertfordshire – a mother, father, their 10-year-old year old son and 12-year-old daughter - had been spotted kayaking in the area throughout the day. Shortly after lunchtime a local tractor driver spotted the father and son stranded on the rocks, but the mother and daughter were nowhere to be seen.
RNLI lifeguard Andrew Neale paddled over to the father and son on his rescue board to see if they required assistance. As he paddled over to the kayakers’ location he spotted the mother and daughter nearby in their kayaks, struggling against the cross-winds as they tried to join their family.
After checking that the father and son were ok, Andrew started to paddle over to the mother and daughter as the two were suddenly caught in a wave and capsized their kayaks. The mother and daughter were unable to return to their crafts, were caught in the current and being swept against the rocks as they struggled to climb to safety. Andrew immediately requested the launch of Little and Broad Haven RNLI lifeboat as he safely assisted the two onto the rocks.
Little and Broad Haven volunteer lifeboat crew launched the inshore lifeboat at 1:50pm and quickly made their way over to the casualties. Due to the conditions and the casualties’ location, the volunteers were unable to get close enough to the rocks for the family to be transferred safely to the lifeboat.
The RNLI lifeguard assisted two of the casualties, one at a time, on to his rescue board and helped transfer them to the safety of the lifeboat. As the first two casualties were taken to the safety of Broad Haven beach, an RNLI crew member boarded one of the kayaks and paddled the craft to a nearby cove as Andrew climbed over the rocks to the two remaining casualties.
The sea had calmed a little as the lifeboat crew made their way back to the two remaining casualties and Andrew was able to help escort the two through the water and wade their way to the lifeboat. The remaining two casualties were then taken by lifeboat safely back to shore where local Coastguard team were waiting.
Stuart Penfold, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor said:
‘This was a great team effort between the lifeguards and Little and Broad Haven lifeboat crew. RNLI lifeguards Geraint Meek and Luke Evans worked from water’s edge and the Lifeguard Unit to ensure clear communications with all the rescue teams which helped Andrew and the Little and Broad Haven lifeboat crew respond quickly to the casualties this afternoon.’
RNLI lifeguards provide a daily safety service on Broad Haven beach from 10am-6pm throughout the summer season.
RNLI media contact
For more information contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Press Officer on 07771 941390 or email Eleri_Roberts@rnli.org.uk.
RNLI lifeguard Andrew Neale paddled over to the father and son on his rescue board to see if they required assistance. As he paddled over to the kayakers’ location he spotted the mother and daughter nearby in their kayaks, struggling against the cross-winds as they tried to join their family.
After checking that the father and son were ok, Andrew started to paddle over to the mother and daughter as the two were suddenly caught in a wave and capsized their kayaks. The mother and daughter were unable to return to their crafts, were caught in the current and being swept against the rocks as they struggled to climb to safety. Andrew immediately requested the launch of Little and Broad Haven RNLI lifeboat as he safely assisted the two onto the rocks.
Little and Broad Haven volunteer lifeboat crew launched the inshore lifeboat at 1:50pm and quickly made their way over to the casualties. Due to the conditions and the casualties’ location, the volunteers were unable to get close enough to the rocks for the family to be transferred safely to the lifeboat.
The RNLI lifeguard assisted two of the casualties, one at a time, on to his rescue board and helped transfer them to the safety of the lifeboat. As the first two casualties were taken to the safety of Broad Haven beach, an RNLI crew member boarded one of the kayaks and paddled the craft to a nearby cove as Andrew climbed over the rocks to the two remaining casualties.
The sea had calmed a little as the lifeboat crew made their way back to the two remaining casualties and Andrew was able to help escort the two through the water and wade their way to the lifeboat. The remaining two casualties were then taken by lifeboat safely back to shore where local Coastguard team were waiting.
Stuart Penfold, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor said:
‘This was a great team effort between the lifeguards and Little and Broad Haven lifeboat crew. RNLI lifeguards Geraint Meek and Luke Evans worked from water’s edge and the Lifeguard Unit to ensure clear communications with all the rescue teams which helped Andrew and the Little and Broad Haven lifeboat crew respond quickly to the casualties this afternoon.’
RNLI lifeguards provide a daily safety service on Broad Haven beach from 10am-6pm throughout the summer season.
RNLI media contact
For more information contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Press Officer on 07771 941390 or email Eleri_Roberts@rnli.org.uk.
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland from 236 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland
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