Warm weather brings 3 calls for Mumbles lifeboat

The volunteer crew of the Mumbles All weather lifeboat were diverted from routine exercise twice today.

At 13.10 the Crew of the lifeboat Roy Barker IV were called to assist a fishing boat in Swansea Bay suffering engine failure. The boat with 2 people on board was taken to Swansea Marina.

At 6.55pm the boat was tasked by UK Coastguard at Milford Haven to assist Horton Lifeboat with locating 2 paddle boarders in difficulty off Oxwich Point.

The paddle boarders were quickly located and transferred from Mumbles to Horton Lifeboat and the safety of Oxwich beach.

Just after 8pm the lifeboat was relaunched to assist with the search for another 2 paddle boards seen drifting in Caswell Bay. An hour later following an extensive search of the bay by Mumbles Coastguard team and the Mumbles lifeboat the boat returned to Station.

Lifeboat volunteer mechanic George Davies said ‘The fishing boat had all the necessary safety equipment on board. He had developed an electrical fault which made it impossible to get going. Thankfully he called for help as soon as he realised he was in danger in thick fog in the middle of the bay. We also have to say well done to the paddle boarders who had the good sense to both have a way of calling for help. We are however looking for any information relating to the 2 missing paddle boards. If anyone has lost them or has found them then do get in touch by calling the Coastguard at Milford.

For anyone taking to the water there’s lots of safety informational RNLI.org.uk

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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