Abersoch RNLI involved in night-time multi-agency cliff rescue.

The female casualty and one other person had been night climbing on Sunday evening at Trwyn Llech-y-Doll, a popular location for climbers near Cilan Uchaf, when she sustained an approximately 40ft fall. Her companion, who had climbed down to the casualty, had to climb back out to find a location with phone signal to call the emergency services before returning to the casualty.

This was a multi-agency response and the volunteer lifeboat crew were guided by the local Coastguard team who were on-scene on the cliff top above the casualty’s location. The lifeboat arrived at Llech-y-Doll at 10.19pm. The location was difficult to access both from the shoreline and vertically however the lifeboat was manoeuvred to allow the crew to gain access and assess the female casualty.

The multi-agency teams quickly assessed the situation and requested helicopter support to assist with the extrication of the casualty. On arrival the Coastguard helicopter team came to the decision that due to the difficult location and the risk of falling rocks from the downdraught, a winch extrication was not deemed to be the safest option and they proceeded to land the helicopter at nearby Porth Ceiriad. The lifeboat crew then transported the winchman to the scene. After being carefully assessed and stabilised the casualty was then placed on a stretcher and transferred via the lifeboat to the waiting helicopter. She was then transported to Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Abersoch RNLI volunteer helm, Andy Gunby, said ‘This was a difficult rescue with all agencies working together to effect an efficient and safe extrication from a precarious location’. He added, ‘The casualty had fallen approximately 40ft and luckily they were wearing appropriate safety gear which most definitely had saved their life. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery and thank all assets for a combined effort to locate, access, stabilise and transport them to hospital in a timely manner’.

The volunteer crew left the scene at 00.45am and returned to the lifeboat station at 1.17am where the volunteer shore crew washed the lifeboat down and refuelled leaving it ready for service.

If you get into difficulty or spot someone else in trouble dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

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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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