BARRY Dock RNLI lifeboat crew launched into gale force winds to assist its Porthcawl team in a Llantwit Major rescue.

Dramatic video footage captured the scene after both crew responded to reports of people in trouble – having been swept into the heavy seas .

Porthcawl RNLI volunteers launched the station's Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Rose Of The Shires after the reports of people having been swept into the water from Llantwit Major beach.

HM Coastguard had received multiple 999 calls from people who saw the situation unfold.

Conditions were rough with two-metre swells and winds of force eight gusting to force nine.

The Atlantic 85 lifeboat arrived on the scene within 20 minutes.

A Coastguard helicopter arrived shortly before Porthcawl RNLI's lifeboat and winched two people to safety.

Both casualties were transferred to hospital by the helicopter.

Barry Dock RNLI's all-weather lifeboat, tasked to the scene, sped quickly to the incident despite the difficult conditions.

Porthcawl volunteers also launched the smaller D-class inshore lifeboat, but it was stood down as it reached Southerndown due to the poor conditions.

Due to the conditions, Barry Dock RNLI's all-weather lifeboat accompanied Porthcawl's inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat back to station, where both boats were made ready for their next service.