Three launches in 24 hours for Beaumaris Lifeboat at start of the Bank Holiday.
The Beaumaris lifeboat volunteers launched three times on separate services between 1.20 pm on Friday 24 May and 1.14 pm on Saturday 25 May 2024.
The first launch was in response to an Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon (ERIB) being activated near Bangor Pier. The lifeboat proceeded to the area and commenced a search speaking to the crew aboard the local mussel boats in Penrhyn dock; the search was then extended towards Menai Bridge.
In the meanwhile, the Bangor Mobile Coastguard team had commenced a shoreline search in the Penrhyn dock area.
The Coastguard was able to ascertain that this was a false alarm the beacon being activated in error,
The lifeboat was released by the Coastguard and arrived back at Beaumaris Lifeboat Station at 2.10 pm to be refuelled and cleaned.
The Second call at 5.20 am on Saturday 25 May2024, was to an incident near a man-made object on the Menai Strait. Lifeboat returning to station at 06.42 am.
The third launch was at 1.14 pm on Saturday 25 May 2024 was to a small sailing dinghy that had capsized with two elderly persons aboard and who were now in the water.
Once on scene the casualties were taken aboard the lifeboat and checked for injuries, and wrapped in survivor bags whilst being continually monitored. An assessment was made by the Helm of the lifeboat in consultation with the Coastguard and the boat owner as to the best course of action to take regarding the vessel. Because the vessel was a serious hazard to navigation being in a navigable channel of the Menai Strait it was decided for safety reasons that the boat should be towed to the nearest available recovery point.
The boat and the two casualties being handed over to the Bangor Mobile Coastguard Team on the slipway at Llanfairfechan. The Lifeboat was then released to return to Beaumaris Lifeboat Station to be refuelled and cleaned.
A RNLI spokesperson said: ‘due to the early request by the coastguard our volunteer lifeboat crew were able to reach each incident quickly, assess the situation and take the best course of action to prevent the situation worsening.’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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