Rescue Services

[SteveH]

2nd photo....Llandudno lifeboat on search pattern.

3rd showing plane prior to radar lose.

[SteveH]

It looks like both the Coastguard and RAF helicopters have stood down, due to the poor visibility, but all lifeboats still searching.

17:11
Three lifeboats on the scene
A third lifeboat from Beaumaris has returned to the scene after previously heading back to base.

They are continuing to carry out their search in pitch-black conditions.

16:49
Lifeboats remain on the scene
Two lifeboats, from Llandudno and Moelfre, remain on the scene of the incident at the moment.



They are continuing to crisscross the water in their search.

[SteveH]

17.55pm
Police confirm route plane was due to take
Police have issued an update on the incident.

“North Wales Police are supporting HM Coastguard in a search for a light aircraft that was flying from Caernarfon Airport to the Great Orme in Llandudno and back this afternoon.

“The aircraft had one pilot on board and no other passengers and family liaison officers are supporting the missing pilot’s family.”

[SteveH]

The search for a missing plane and its pilot off the Welsh coast has resumed, the coastguard has said.     ref BBC
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the search has resumed around Puffin Island, near Penmon, Anglesey.
A plane carrying a sonar technology camera is searching the area as well as a lifeboat, helicopter and coastguard teams on foot.

Looking at the Marine traffic site, no lifeboats in search area, I checked the RNLI sites.................
RNLI news.....

Llandudno Lifeboat RNLI
10 hrs ·
Three RNLI lifeboats from North Wales have launched this afternoon (25 November) to assist in the search for an aircraft last seen two miles north east of Penmon, Anglesey.

Beaumaris' Atlantic 85 launched at 1.15pm and Moelfre’s Tamar class all-weather lifeboat launched at 1.20pm. The Llandudno volunteer crew were paged at 2.14pm and launched their Shannon class lifeboat to assist in the search.

The volunteer crews carried out an extensive search of an area around Penmon and were joined by Coastguard teams from Penmon and Bangor. The Coastguard helicopter was also scrambled.

All volunteer crews spent many hours conducting a detailed search, with Beaumaris RNLI crew first to return to station, followed by Llandudno’s Shannon just after 9.30pm. The Moelfre RNLI crew returned to station just after 10pm last night.

No request has yet been made to launch in the morning, but the volunteer crews are ready to assist should they be required.

[SteveH]

The pilot who vanished while flying off the coast of North Wales has been named.                                     ref DP
Professor David Last, 79, was piloting a Cessna light aircraft off Anglesey .

Search called off for the day
Due to adverse weather conditions in the area, HM Coastguard have confirmed that all search activities have been suspended for today.

Professor Last’s family have released the following statement.
Professor David Last was a Consultant Engineer and Expert Witness specialising in Radio Navigation and Communications Systems.

“He was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Bangor, Past-President of the Royal Institute of Navigation and a respected figure in the world-wide navigation community.

“He was an experienced, instrument-rated pilot. Most importantly to us, he was head of the family: a much loved father, husband, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend, and we are all heartbroken. We would appreciate respect for our privacy during this difficult time.”                                                         


PS
Coastguard confirm debris found in search
HM Coastguard has confirmed that debris has been found in the search for missing pilot David Last.

They said that the debris was found on Monday.
The teams searched the coast from Conwy to Bangor and Beaumaris to Llaneilian, but nothing was found today.
“Debris was found yesterday and this is what the search rescue pattern was based on.
“The debris that was able to be safely recovered by Lifeboats, was retrieved and handed to Air Accidents Investigation Branch.”

[SteveH]

Coastguard calls off search for missing pilot Professor David Last                                                     REF DP
The search for a missing pilot after a plane disappeared from radar contact over Anglesey has been called off. Coastguard teams, lifeboats, police, a helicopter, and dive boat have been involved in the search for Professor David Last over the last two days. It is suspected the light aircraft Professor Last was flying crashed after contact was lost near Puffin Island at around 12.45pm on Monday.

[SteveH]

After seeing the SAR helicopter, over the RNLI station area about 4pm, there are reports that both the lifeboat and coastguard are active.


RNLI Seasonal message....

22 hrs ·
Llandudno RNLI striving to save lives at sea in 2019

As the festive season approaches and another year draws to a close the volunteer crew members prepare for a potentially busy holiday period.

Llandudno RNLI volunteers have taken part in numerous rescues both off the coast and around our beaches in 2019, including a just in time rescue at the West Shore on New Year’s Day.

Llandudno Coxswain Graham Heritage who has volunteered on the lifeboats for over 35 years explained, “my crew and I are all very proud to have served the public and helped to save these lives. We will all be on standby over Christmas and the New Year as we are every year. There are several places around our local shores which can be extremely hazardous to the public, in particular the West Shore sandbanks is one of the places we would strongly advise people to avoid”.

Captain Marcus Elliott, Lifeboat Operations Manager adds: “Thinking of local dangers, I would reiterate the need for everyone, whether local or not, to check tide times if they are planning to walk around the area’s beaches, especially as being cut off by the tide is a common cause of lifeboat call outs and all the more dangerous in the winter when sea temperatures are low. I would also urge those considering going afloat (if the weather is suitable!) to check their craft and safety equipment carefully before setting out. Breakdowns are also a common cause of lifeboat calls in our area and colder temperatures again increase risks. Do enjoy the festive season in the Llandudno area but safely”.

RNLI in Wales is issuing its own call for help, as new figures show Christmas call outs over the last 40 years have rocketed. Between 1979 – 1989, Welsh volunteers attended an average of four call outs over the Christmas period. During the last 10 years, the figure has risen by a dramatic 187 per cent, to an average of 11 lifeboat launches between 2009-2018.

The charity is facing a Perfect Storm, with more people drowning and a shortfall in funds, meaning support from the public is more vital than ever. To support the RNLI’s Perfect Storm appeal this Christmas, helping to ensure the charity’s brave volunteers can continue saving lives at sea, please visit RNLI.org/ThePerfectStorm

Photo Credit: Nigel Millard

[SteveH]

Follow up to the above, .............

Llandudno Coastguard
12 mins ·
We were paged at 14:43 to assist the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust with a Medical Emergency in Angel Bay on the Little Orme.

The team assisted the ambulance crew with casualty care and also secured a landing site ready for the arrival of the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service - EMRTS Wales on board the Wales Air Ambulance Charity helicopter.
The casualty was transported by road ambulance to hospital.

[Ian]

We're very aware of the RNLI living where we do, and they do provide an invaluable resource. But I think the organisation tends to be a little...subtle in the way it describes its people.

Many folk believe all lifeboats are manned by unpaid volunteers, but that's not strictly true. Lifeboat crews are three in number: a helmsman, a mechanic and a volunteer. The first two are paid a salary - and it's not at all bad.   The volunteer is also paid for each turn out.  Twelve years ago they were getting £20.00 per call out, plus expenses.

And the Charity does have a lot of salaried positions:

Popular RNLI Jobs
Accounting
Administrative Assistance
Arts & Entertainment
Banking & Finance
Cleaning & Sanitation
Community & Social Service
Construction
Customer Service
Driving
Education & Instruction
Hospitality & Tourism
Human Resources
IT Operations & Helpdesk
Industrial Engineering
Information Design & Documentation
Installation & Maintenance
Legal
Loading and Stocking
Management
Marketing
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Media & Communications
Nursing
Production & Manufacturing
Project Management
Retail
Sales
Scientific Research & Development
Security & Public Safety
Software Development

How much does RNLI in the United Kingdom pay?
The average RNLI salary ranges from approximately £20,331 per year for Support Staff to £56,436 per year for Public Affairs Specialist. Average RNLI hourly pay ranges from approximately £8.57 per hour for Porter to £15.30 per hour for Team Leader.

It's not that I want to knock them;  as an organisation they do extremely valuable work.  But I just wonder if they perhaps stress the unpaid volunteer aspect a little too much. The RNLI chief executive is paid a little under £200,000 pa.

[spotty dog]

Ian I haven't any really up to date re numeration for what I would consider front line staff.i am sure these rates are admin staff rates,as you probably know the RNLI now build their own boats down in . As of late the administration has grown with highly paid professional personal at the expense of what was a very close family

[SteveH]

It is unfortunate, but charities in general depend on fundraising administration, I do not always agree on how funds are raised, or how they are spent, which is why I stick to local causes, including our local RNLI, I recall hearing from their procurement officer, many years ago, "that he would spend our donations on the best and most advanced equipment, and probably the most expensive he could find, because he wanted to sleep at night, knowing he had sent out crews, with the best equipment to survive their rescues" it was nice to hear his honest approach to fundraising.

[SteveH]

Lucky chap, this could have ended badly.

Rhyl's new lifeboat's was dispatched to rescue a yacht that had broken down off Barkby beach.

The fin-keel yacht had experienced engine trouble, so the owner tried to come ashore in his dinghy to get help.
But on his way back to the Miss Moneypenny, his dinghy's engine also failed.

The vessel was safely taken under tow, with two lifeboat crew on board the yacht to manage the tow.

"The skipper of the yacht was located by local Rhyl coastguards at Prestatyn, and taken to Mostyn Harbour to meet up with his vessel. This was done successfully, and the lifeboat returned to station at 3.15 pm on Saturday."

"The lifeboat performed very well, and it is the first time we have towed a vessel. The lifeboat proved beyond doubt the capabilities required, and it handled the job with ease."

He added: "We would like to thank both Prestatyn Sailing Club, and the skipper of the fishing boat Merlin, who greatly assisted the location of the yacht in the busy shipping channel used by very fast vessels servicing the offshore wind farms."  ref DP

[SteveH]

A boat owner, doing emergency repairs to his boat, in Rhos on sea, had to be rescued after being unable to return to shore due to deteriorating conditions.

The second photo brings home the dedication of the RNLI......... An RNLI boat going to sea off the coast of Hastings to search for a missing surfer, who was later found safe.

 

[SteveH]

Watch heart stopping moment three almost swept out to sea by Storm Ciara wave
The coastguard says the footage shows the danger of getting to close to the sea during bad weather

This CCTV footage taken from Prestatyn Sailing Club just shows why we urge you not to venture out near the sea in stormy weather.

This footage was taken yesterday during the storms and its through luck that these people weren't swept further out to sea.
Stormy weather might produce breathtaking photographs but it might be the last breath you ever take if you’re there at the wrong moment.
Please don’t risk your life to take pictures or take in the scenery at the coast, however dramatic it looks.

Even professional photographers put on their longest lenses and keep a respectful distance from the storms.
And don’t risk walking or driving next to sea walls. A sudden wave can wash you and your car away in moments not to mention children and pets.

Our beautiful coast and seas can turn deadly in a moment. Don’t risk your life for a photograph or a selfie. It might be the last picture you ever take.

And as ever, if you see anyone in difficulty at sea or on the coast, Dial 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD.

VIDEO    https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/watch-heartstopping-moment-three-almost-17727026

[SteveH]

Could you volunteer for the RNLI at Llandudno Lifeboat Station as Inshore Lifeboat Crew or as one of our Launch Vehicle Drivers/ Head Launchers?