03/19/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Mumbles lifeboat launched to aid surfer

JUST after 12.30 pm today, Saturday (Oct 19) the volunteer crew of the Mumbles lifeboat were called by UK Coastguard at Milford Haven to assist the Coastguard rescue team in Swansea following the trigger of an emergency EPIRB transponder. Both Mumbles all weather and inshore lifeboats searched an area across Swansea Bay as Coastguard teams scanned the beach areas but nothing was found.

Tim Conway Lifeboat Operations Manager said ‘The EPIRB is an emergency rescue beacon which automatically triggers when it hits the water. The signal was located as originating from somewhere in the area of the bay but with only a short burst of transmission before it shut down and with no debris found in the area we can only assume that it was an accidental activation’.

Immediately after the search was concluded both boats were tasked to assist the UK Coastguard Rescue team with an injured surfer at Caswell bay. The Coxswain placed 3 crew on the beach, the surfer had injured his neck and was in considerable pain. The crew stayed with the casualty until an ambulance arrived to take him to Morriston hospital.

Lifeboat Helm James Rice said ‘The surfer had done the right thing following a neck compression while surfing. As soon as he suspected a spinal injury he called the Coastguard on 999. There was quite a wait for the ambulance and thankfully between the Coastguard team, crew and some beach lifeguards we kept him stable until the ambulance arrived’.


Pics. Abi Bolter – RNLI/Andy Miles – Mumbles Coastguard

%d bloggers like this: