Coastguards called out five times (From Barry And District News)

Coastguards called out five times

SINCE the last report from Barry Island Coastguards, they have been kept busy with a further five incidents.

*On Tuesday, July 19, an incident occurred which made the national media on the following Friday.

This was the case of an autistic 12-year-old boy who was on a visit to Barry Island with his school (see above).

The school was issued with wristbands for further trips to the coast.

These wristbands are available from the lifeguards at Barry Island, and have a space for a contact number to be written on, so that if your child gets lost, the Coastguard, Police or Lifeguards can contact you directly to ease your fears.

*The following day two 999 calls were made reporting three boys attempting to cross back from Sully Island when the causeway was flooded.

When the Coastguards arrived on scene, the parents of one of the boys arrived from a local caravan park, and confirmed that the boys were playing near the causeway, rather than trying to cross it. Penarth Lifeboat was already on its way, and landed to confirm with the lads that they were prepared to wait for the tide to ebb enough for them to cross back to the mainland safely.

All emergency personnel then left the scene and returned to base.

*On Friday, July 22, Barry Island Coastguard was alerted to assist the Ambulance service with the recovery of a potentially suicidal woman from the beach at Whitmore Bay.

The Ambulance personnel had treated the patient.

l Saturday evening saw the Coastguard mobilised to search for a yacht that had gone missing around our local coast.

After a quick search in Barry Dock and the Old Harbour, the boat was located.

*On Monday evening, the pagers again called the volunteers of Barry Island Coastguard out to assist the Ambulance service.

A local man was enjoying an evening at Porthkerry Park with his friends and family when he tripped over, breaking his ankle, landing on his head and sustaining spinal injuries.

Due to the nature of the injuries, it was considered too risky to transport him over the speed ramps in the park, so the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was called.

Rescue 169 was scrambled and soon on scene, with the Coastguards and Police keeping the public away so that the chopper could land safely.

The casualty was loaded into the helicopter and transferred to the Heath hospital in Cardiff. The assistance of the park warden in facilitating the access for the emergency services is much appreciated.

With the casualty safely under way in Rescue 169, the Ambulance, Police and Coastguard services dispersed and left the park.

*The public are reminded that for all beach, coast, mud and cliff emergencies, dial 999 and ask for Coastguard. The Coastguard have the facilities to co-ordinate all means necessary to effect the prompt rescue of people around the coast.