Burry Port RNLI called out as temperatures soar

Author: Paul Stewart

Volunteers at Burry Port were called out 3 times this weekend to assist people in difficulty in the water as temperatures hit 24 degrees.

Just before 6pm on Saturday 14th June, in what had been a hot and clear day in Burry Port, volunteers were requested to launch by Swansea Coastguard to reports of persons cut off by the tide near North Dock, Llanelli.

The station’s D-Class lifeboat Diane Hilary was launched with volunteer crew members Andrew Williams, Paul Mitchell and Andrew Young.

The crew had made their way on to the water and were proceeding eastward toward North Dock when they received information that the persons had safely exited the water. The volunteers, having been stood down by Swansea Coastguard, made their way back to station.

As the inshore lifeboat was being washed down, 2 persons were spotted cut off by the water between Burry Port Harbour and Pembrey. With Burry Port seeing big tidal movements this weekend the volunteer crew self-launched to go to their assistance.

Volunteers Darren Sheppard, Paul Williams and Andrew Young made their way on the freshly cleaned D-Class Diane Hilary toward The Saltings where they were able to recover the casualties and transfer them to the shore where Burry Port Mobile Coastguard Team were waiting to assist the casualties.

At 9.30pm on Sunday 15th June volunteers at Burry Port received reports from Swansea Coastguard that persons had been seen rowing their RIB in a position between Machynys and the Whiteford Lighthouse and looked in need of assistance.

The station’s Atlantic 75 lifeboat Leicester Challenge II was launched with crew members Andrew Williams, Darren Sheppard and Paul Stewart on board.

The volunteers lifeboat crew made their way toward Machynys searching for the casualties and their grey vessel. With the tide now ebbing any efforts to row their vessel would now be getting more challenging.

The casualties were spotted by the volunteer crew still rowing their vessel 1 mile off North Dock.

Once alongside the casualty vessel an assessment was made by the lifeboat crew and all the casualties were brought aboard the lifeboat. An alongside tow was set up and the casualties and their vessel were taken to North Dock.

At North Dock the casualties were handed over to Burry Port Mobile Coastguard Team who had made their way up from Burry Port to assist with the rescue.