FIVE teenagers needed rescuing by the RNLI Barry Dock lifeboat crew after becoming trapped by the tide on Wednesday, August 13.

The volunteer crew were called out to Jackson’s Bay, Barry, just after 9.15pm.

Three boys, aged 17 and two girls, aged 15, were cut off by the tide on the rock formation known locally as 'Bull's nose'.

The lifeboat was summoned once more, after the teenagers had been brough to shore, to search Whitmore Bay for young swimmers reported to the Coastguard as being in difficulty. The young people returned to the shore by the time the lifeboat arrived.

Barry Coastguard crew said teenagers, who had been drinking, were in the water and people had raised concerns about their safety.

A spokesman said: “Coastguard crew asked the teenagers to leave the water, and they did so with a bit of persuasion. When they were out of the water, they said that they were quite happy and safe to be in there as the lifeboat was in the bay. They didn't realise that the only reason the lifeboat was in the bay was to prevent them from getting into difficulties.”

Barry has the second highest tides in the world and the coastal environnment can change very quickly.

RNLI’s coastal safety manager in Wales, Nicola Davies said 'With more people losing their lives at the coast each year than are killed in cycling accidents, we’re trying to make people realise that they are at risk from drowning if they don’t follow some basic but important safety advice. We want people to go to the coast and enjoy it – we’re lucky to have an exceptional coastline around Wales – but we want people to understand there are risks, and that they should not underestimate the power of the sea.

“Our key advice is to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, where you’ll have professional lifeguards looking out for you.”

Whitmore Bay is a lifeguarded beach during advertised hours.