Busy time for coastguard (From Barry And District News)

Busy time for coastguard

IT has been a very busy time for the Coastguard unit based on Barry Island.

On Friday, July 15, as the tide was rising, a report came in of five teenagers cut off near The Parade or Watchtower Bay.

The Coastguard mobilised Barry Dock lifeboat to assist, and other agencies were also alerted, resulting in the police, ambulance, and fire service special rescue tender appearing on scene to help.

After a brief search of the area, it was discovered that the youths had climbed the cliffs and were safe so all units were stood down.

Advice was given to the youngsters about tides if walking along the cliffs in future.

On Sunday, July 10, Atlantic College inshore lifeboat aided a broken down boat and towed it back to The Hayes slipway. Barry Island coastguards were tasked to obtain details and give advice.

However, while at Sully, a call came through that there were two people in an inflatable dinghy floating out to sea at Whitmore Bay.

As the broken down boat was safe, Atlantic College ILB and Barry Island coastguard left The Hayes and returned to Whitmore Bay to assist the men in their 20s ashore, safe and well.

Advice was given as to the safe use of inflatables, and the rescuers returned to the first casualty to ensure they were taken ashore safely.

Later that day the lifeguards reported a girl of eight missing, last seen near the water's edge. After a brief search, the girl was found safe and returned to her parents.

On Tuesday, July 12, the whole crew from the coastguards were training when a call was received of a craft broken down near Aberthaw power station, so three members left the training to observe the casualty and con the Barry Dock lifeboat onto the craft.

The lifeboat towed the boat into Barry Harbour, and as the casualty was being tied up to a mooring, a call came in of another inflatable drifting out to sea at Whitmore Bay.

The coastguard and lifeboat responded immediately and assisted the dinghy to shore, where advice was given to the occupants.

The following day a report came in of a missing six-year-old at Whitmore Bay. Upon arrival of the Coastguard, the girl was found safe and well.

On Friday, July 15, a member of the public dialled 999 when they saw two airbeds drifting out to sea at Jackson's Bay with three people on them, but one inflatable, shaped like a Dinosaur, had tipped over, throwing the people into the sea.

Barry Dock lifeboat and the coastguard were soon on the scene, where the local men assured the lifeboat that they were strong swimmers and would swim ashore unaided.

Barry Dock Lifeboat stood by while the men did so.

The sun drew a large crowd to Barry Island over the last weekend, and on Sunday, July 17, the coastguard were called out three times.

The first, at around 10am, was to recover the body of an elderly woman who had drowned after going missing overnight.

At about 5.45pm a call went out to help in the search for a missing child at Whitmore Bay, but she was found safe as the coastguard arrived.

The third call of the day was at 7pm when a report was received of two men in an inflatable dinghy waving their arms for help as they were drifting out to sea.

As they waited for a lifeboat, they also paddled towards the shore at Nell's Point, and managed to grab hold of rocks at the southern end of the point, and self rescue.

The Barry Dock lifeboat was stood down and the men from Birmingham given advice about the safe use of the inflatable on the sea.

With the school holidays about to start, the public are reminded that for all cliff, sea, beach and mud rescues, dial 999 and ask for coastguard.