Rescue crews set to brave cold seas (From Barry And District News)

Rescue crews set to brave cold seas

WHILE most of us are lost in a haze of turkey, tinsel and trashy TV inside our warm houses on Christmas Day, Barry Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers will be keeping one eye on their pagers throughout the festivities, listening out for the call that will see them rushing out to help someone in trouble at sea.

Calls could range from a boat breaking down to a person being lost in treacherous conditions.

And with statistics revealing that Christmas lifeboat launches in Wales have almost quadrupled over the last 25 years, members of the Barry lifeboat crew will not be thinking twice about trading in the turkey to potentially save lives.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan visited the Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat station on Tuesday to meet the crew and demonstrate his appreciation to those who are willing to swap their warm homes for bitter winds and icy seas over Christmas, and every other day of the year.

Mr Morgan said: "The RNLI lifeboat crews are among the bravest and most selfless people in our society.

"They are volunteers who put their lives on the line every time they set out.

"While we are enjoying Christmas in the warmth with our families and friends, the lifeboat crews can be called out at any time in the most treacherous weather conditions to go to the aid of seafarers in trouble in our coastal waters.

"They are true heroes and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude."

Richard Tutton, a full-time RNLI mechanic, will be on call this Christmas.

"I don't mind being on call this Christmas," he said.

"I've been doing my job for six years and I love it. I got into it because my dad was also a lifeboat mechanic.