It has been a busy week for Tenby’s lifeboat and coastguard teams, starting off last Friday (June 28) when Tenby’s RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched after being alerted by a member of the public who went into the lifeboat station shop, reporting that a kayaker was a long way offshore and possibly in difficulty.

The incident occurred at 1 pm, and with the aid of binoculars, the coxswain got eyes on the kayaker, who was south of the DZ2 buoy, some 2.5 miles south-east of the station.

He seemed to be making way, but as there was a strong breeze causing a chop on the sea and due to the fact he was still headed away from shore, it was decided that it would be wise to make sure the he was ok.

Within minutes, the volunteer crew were on the water and made their way to the the kayaker.

After talking to him, it became apparent he was experienced and knew what he was doing.

He was given safety advice, including having a reliable source of communication such as VHF radio with him, as mobile phone signal is not guaranteed.

With the volunteer crew happy that the kayaker was in no danger, the lifeboat returned to the station.

Tenby Coastguards and RNLI members were then tasked later that Friday afternoon to assist ambulance staff with the medical evacuation of a casualty from Tenby RNLI boat house.

The casualty had become unwell whilst visiting the souvenir shop in the station and alerted shop staff.

First on scene to assist with first aid shortly before 4.30 pm were members of Tenby Lifeboats RNLI, a member of the MAWW?Fire and Rescue service and a senior coastguard rescue officer who had all been attending a meeting at the lifeboat station.

Upon arrival ambulance crew took over medical care and Tenby coastguard rescue team assisted with the evacuation of the casualty from the lifeboat station to the awaiting land ambulance.

The patient was then transported to Withybush hospital for further treatment.

Tenby’s inshore lifeboat was requested to launch shortly before 3 pm on Monday after Milford Haven Coastguard overheard the word ‘Mayday’ being broadcast in the Tenby/Saundersfoot area.

The volunteer crew were requested to perform a search from Tenby to Wiseman’s Bridge, looking for any vessels in difficulty, while the Coastguard made further enquiries.

With a thorough search performed both by sea and by Coastguard teams on land, with nothing found and no more information suggesting anybody was in difficulty, all units were stood down to return to station.

Tenby’s inshore lifeboat then launched shortly after 3 pm on Wednesday after a report that a member of a group had become injured somewhere between Waterwynch and Monkstone.

The volunteer crew were tasked to perform a shoreline search between 1st Point and Monkstone for any sign of the person, while members of Tenby’s Coastguard Rescue Team searched from above.

Some time into the search, crew members heard somebody shouting to them, and the crew were then able to direct Coastguard Team members to the casualty, who assessed and then escorted the person to where an ambulance was waiting for him.