A KITESURFER who abandoned his board in the sea off Nell's Point was found safe yesterday, after members of the public contacted emergency services fearing he had drowned.

HM Coastguard received reports of a kitesurfer in difficulty shortly before 1.45pm on Thursday, February 1, with the Barry Dock RNLI's Trent class lifeboat dispatched to investigate.

Once on scene the crew saw that a local pilot boat was recovering the person’s kitesurfing equipment from the water. With no sign of the surfer, the lifeboat crew commenced a planned search pattern.

The crew continued to search until 2.10pm, when confirmation came that the local Coastguard Rescue Teams had located the man ashore.

All were then stood down and the lifeboat returned to station, from where the kitesurfer was able to collect his missing gear and was given safety advice by the coastguard team.

Deputy second coxswain at Barry Dock RNLI, Jon Atkins said: "We are glad the kitesurfer was able to make it ashore to be helped by the coastguard teams.

"We would always encourage kitesurfers and anyone participating in activities near or on the water to check the weather and tidal conditions are make sure their planned activity is suitable before setting out."

A witness who dialled 999 said the kitesurfer had been found sat on the beach shivering, saying: "He (the kitesurfer) was totally unprepared. He could have got hypothermia."

The search and rescue helicopter and Barry Coastguard also attended the scene.