Burry Port RNLI rescue 11 persons in water in sweltering sunshine

Author: Paul Stewart

Volunteers at Burry Port RNLI have had a very busy afternoon following 3 call outs in temperatures measuring 28 degrees to assist 11 persons who found themselves cut off by the tide.

Just before 4pm this afternoon (Thursday 24 July) volunteers were requested to launch by Swansea Coastguard to go to the assistance of 2 persons who had been cut off by the tide on a sandbank west of Burry Port Lighthouse.

Volunteers Paul Mitchell, Mike Jenkins, Nathan Gower and Osian Bowen immediately launched on the station’s D-Class Inshore Lifeboat Diane Hilary.

Within minutes the volunteers were with the casualties, and having re-assured them, they began assisting them back to the shoreline and out of danger.

Within moments of assisting the casualties back to land the volunteer crew were tasked by Swansea Coastguard to a further 4 persons cut off by the fast incoming tide in The Saltings area between Pembrey and Burry Port.

The 4 persons, fully clothed and shoulder deep in water, were swiftly located by the RNLI volunteers and guided back to the safety of dry land.

Having now assisted 6 persons, the volunteer crew were informed by Swansea Coastguard that their immediate assistance was needed in the North Dock area of Llanelli, where 5 children had been seen in difficulty in the water and screaming for help.

With time of the essence the volunteers from Burry Port made their way rapidly to the area where they were presented with the sight of 5 children neck-deep in water with 2 of the children being held afloat. The lifeboat crew heard 1 of the casualties scream for them to help the youngest as he could not swim.

The crew wasted no time in getting all 5 children out of the water and aboard the lifeboat. Now in the safety of the volunteer crew the children were re-assured and no medical assistance was required. The 5 children were then taken to the shoreline where they were handed over to Burry Port Mobile Coastguard Unit and Loughor Mobile Coastguard Unit who had both made their way to assist with the rescue.

Lifeboat Press Officer Paul Stewart commented “The lifeboat crew did an excellent job today, assisting 11 persons all in difficulty having been caught out by the tides. The children at North Dock were in life threatening danger as some of the individuals could not swim. Without the quick actions of our volunteers the outcome could have been terribly different.”

“Today the RNLI have launched their Respect The Water Campaign and I would urge people to take the time to read the information provided to help their time spent at our coast remain enjoyable but ultimately safe”.

For more information on the RNLI Respect The Water Campaign, click here: