Rescue Services

[Hugo]

Llyn Padarn 'rescue of drowning kids' sparks criticism of parents 'glued to mobile phones'
A paddleboarder said the incident occurred in the lagoons this week, prompting others to share similar stories they witnessed at beauty spots across North Wales


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llyn-padarn-rescue-drowning-kids-24915505

[SteveH]

Both casualties were taken onboard the lifeboat, and a 10-year old girl had swum ashore and was met by the Coastguard.

The two casualties were then taken to the lifeboat station, where they received first aid until the first responder arrived to aid and assess them.

A Conwy Lifeboat spokesperson added: ?With the casualties in the safe hands of the Coastguard and first responder, the lifeboat was washed, refuelled and made ready for the next request.

?A big thanks to the young lad we rescued for his help in washing down the boat after he had warmed up and was deemed fit and well by the first responder.? 

Conwy RNLI crew saves eight people cut off in the water at West Shore

The second shout came at 3pm yesterday (September 5), when the May-Bob was relaunched with three crew members onboard to reports of a group of people and three dogs on the sandbanks at West Shore who had also been cut off by the incoming tide.

Upon arrival at the scene, the crew of Rob and brothers Tom and Matt checked the area and established that the people and the dogs had made it safely ashore.

Following a final sweep of the area, the lifeboat was then stood down and returned to station where again the boat was recovered, washed down, refuelled and made ready for the next request.

[SteveH]

A LIFEBOAT crew was called out to a fire on a boat.

The Llandudno all-weather lifeboat William F Yates launched at 2.58pm on Monday with the task of locating a vessel in potential peril approximately five miles north of Rhos Point and close to the Gwynt Y Mor Windfarm.

The 12-metre twin engine vessel, with a crew of two, had requested assistance from the Coastguard following an engine fire on board.

The lifeboat with her volunteer crew launched and once on scene established that the two people on board had managed to safely control and contain the fire.

The lifeboat coxswain agreed with the vessel skipper to provide an escort as a precaution to the safety of Conwy Marina.

Using the remaining engine, the vessel with the lifeboat close behind made steady progress returning to the waiting pontoon at Conwy at 4.30pm.

They were met by a Coastguard team and the North Wales Fire Service.

[SteveH]

THE Llandudno all-weather lifeboat, William F Yates, launched yesterday evening (September 27) tasked to assist a vessel in potential peril close to the pier in Llandudno Bay.

The 40ft twin engine vessel had attempted to anchor in the bay, following the loss of an engine.

But the person on board experienced difficulties in holding a safe position due to the falling tide and rough sea conditions and eventually required the assistance of the lifeboat.

The lifeboat, with her voluntary crew, were soon on location after launching at 6.28pm, and in consultation with the casualty vessel, agreed to provide an escort to the safety of Conwy Harbour.

The two vessels commenced a slow journey around the Great Orme?s head, heading towards the Conwy Estuary.

Unfortunately, the vessel then lost her second engine and had to be taken under tow by the lifeboat, before continuing upstream to the safe mooring of the Beacons Jetty at 9.57pm.

Lifeboat coxswain, Tim James, said: ?This was far from a straightforward rescue and actually proved to be extremely challenging.

?There were very heavy seas off the Great Orme due to previous days conditions.

?The wind and tide made the journey difficult, especially for the casualty vessel as the breaking waves were knocking it very badly off course and pushing it all the time towards the rocks off the Orme.

?We then had difficulties getting the casualty safely berthed at Conwy, this due to a combination of heavy winds, very fast running spring tides and poor visibility hampered by heavy driving rain.

?The most technically difficult set of manoeuvres that I have ever had to do to get a casualty safely alongside.?

After completion of the handover, the lifeboat made its journey back to Llandudno to be recovered, and prepared for her next service by the awaiting shore crew.

[SteveH]

Coroner to write to Tesco after Conwy paddleboard death

A coroner plans to write to the UK government and Tesco to raise concerns over the safety of paddleboards.

Emma Powell, 24, from Llandudno, died in July while out in the River Conwy estuary on a paddleboard sold by Tesco.

Senior coroner John Gittins delivered a verdict of accidental death at the inquest into her death in Ruthin.

Mr Gittins said he had concerns over advice on the use of leashes, and whether safety advice should be given by retailers selling paddleboards.

He will raise these concerns in a prevention of future deaths report issued to both the UK government and Tesco.

Emma Powell died on 14 July, just hours after she and a cousin, Amber Powell, had purchased a paddleboard each from a Tesco store near Llandudno, Conwy county.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63909946

[SteveH]

It is human nature to have a go, BUT think before you leap.......a sobering article .....

Sisters dive into icy Blaenavon pond in bid to save dogs.

A woman has described how she and her sister dived into an icy pond to try to rescue their two dogs which "skidded into the water".

One, French bulldog Hugo, is missing after Katie and Danielle Campbell walked their pets at Keeper's Pond in Blaenavon, Torfaen, last weekend.

Both sisters were taken to hospital for treatment.

It comes as the Royal Life Saving Society repeated warnings of the dangers of frozen water.

Earlier this week, four children died in Solihull, Birmingham, and there have since been reports of young people spotted playing on icy ponds in south Wales.

Full article  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63996952

[Hugo]

Accidents can happen to anyone but you need to think carefully before taking any risks.       I was thinking about Snowdonia this week and  the snow that we have had as it attracts many walkers there.     I've not heard of any accidents there recently thank goodness and hope it stays that way

[SteveH]

The bizarre and brave animal rescues carried out by RSPCA teams in North Wales
Rescuers sprung into action across the region when animals were caught in a tight spot

From a stranded sheep to a cat trapped in a garden gate, there were plenty of unique callouts for RSPCA rescuers in North Wales. In 2022, the charity were called to thousands of incidents across the UK, including many in which birds, wildlife, pets and farm animals found themselves in a sticky situation.

Dermot Murphy, RSPCA Inspectorate Commissioner from the animal charity?s frontline rescuers, said: ?With our teams out rescuing animals from danger and suffering 365 days a year, we are often their only hope. It?s an honour to be able to lend a hand to animals in desperate need and we hope people enjoy seeing some of the weird and wonderful places animals have found themselves in need of our help.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/bizarre-brave-animal-rescues-carried-25874275?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Jet ski warning: Reckless riders face long prison sentences under new law
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is to receive more powers to crack down on riders who cause crashes, following a rise in the power and number of jet skis on British waters

cont https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/jet-ski-warning-reckless-riders-28996138?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Celebrate North Wales' RNLI with these photos of lifeboats and crews through the decades
These photos taken between 1939 and 2019 capture local RNLI crews at work

Photo Gallery  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/nostalgia/gallery/celebrate-north-wales-rnli-photos-26300932?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

Photo below  Holidaymakers watching the launch of Llandudno's lifeboat "Thomas and Anne Wade Richards", July 1939

[Hugo]

I enjoyed reading about those lifeboats in the article so thanks Steve for posting it.      As a local Llandudno person I did notice the house on the top of the Great Orme in the Llandudno Lifeboat photo
The house is in St Beuno's Road and you could see it from most places in Llandudno

[SteveH]

Campaigners have called for a licence requirement for water bike riders as new rules come in to curb irresponsible users.

The new law came into force on Friday as the UK government warned people "riding a jet ski recklessly or causing harm" faced fines or up to two years in prison.

It said the new law would crack down on dangerous use of water bikes.

But one MP says the new law does not go far enough.

Campaigners for water bike safety said it was that a child as young as 12 can legally drive a jet ski in the UK, whereas riders in countries like France, Spain, Croatia and Denmark must have a licence and be 16.

Watercraft users in the UK are now bound by the same laws that apply to ships, and give more powers to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to prosecuted irresponsible riders.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65127194

[SteveH]

LLANDUDNO Coastguard were tasked to a Jetski which had run aground on the sand banks at West Shore.

The incident happened on Saturday (April 1).

Llandudno Coastguard posted on social media: "Inquiries revealed the owner was safe at the Beach Cafe and was waiting for the tide to come in (four hours) to refloat the Jetski.

"If you are heading out on a Jetski make sure that you have a means of communication, know the 'rules of the road' and familiarise yourself with the tides, currents and hazards of the area that you will be visiting.

"If you should run into any kind of difficulty you can contact the Coastguard by phoning 999 or messaging on VHF Channel 16," the statement added.


He was lucky, looks like the sharks were gathering.........

[SteveH]

A Coastguard spokesperson said: "We were called out [yesterday] to a report of a collision between a Jetski and a boat near Conwy marina. We quickly ascertained that the incident had occurred on the way to Puffin Island and a casualty from the Jetski had been brought back to Conwy Beacons.

"A freak wave had knocked the Jetski off course and into the path of an accompanying boat. Fortunately the Jetski operator had managed to jump clear before being struck by the boat himself. The casualty was thoroughly examined and his only injuries were some grazes to his shins, a lucky escape.

"This was a group of four, experienced Jetskiers accompanied by a support boat and all involved were appropriately equipped and trained. This is an example of an accident which demonstrates the potential dangers of any activity at sea.

"If you are venturing out in a boat or on a Jetski make sure that you are wearing an appropriate flotation device, are carrying some method of reliable communication and have informed someone of your plans and planned return time. Should you get into difficulties please call the Coastguard on VHF channel 16 or dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

[SteveH]

We were called out yesterday (Saturday) afternoon to a report of people in danger of being cut off by the tide at West Shore.
On arrival we could see three people on a rapidly disappearing sand bank. Two team members donned dry suits and flotation devices to keep themselves safe before going out on to the sand bank to contact the people and our colleagues at Conwy Lifeboat were called out to provide back up.
The three people were contacted and escorted safely off the sand bank shortly before it was completely surrounded by the incoming tide.
At the moment the tides are in the neap phase and are moving relatively slowly but in a weeks time the tides will be in the spring phase with the incoming water moving much faster and a situation such as this will be much more dangerous.
Before engaging in any seaside activities please check the tide times and keep a look out for changing conditions. If you find yourself in danger or become aware of anyone in difficulty please dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
#coastguard #999Coastguard #watersafety #BeBeachSafe