Tenby’s Inshore lifeboat launches

Tenby’s RNLI inshore lifeboat was requested to launch at around 2.40 am on Saturday (May 4), to assist police and Coastguards in the search for a man reported missing in the Castle Beach area.

Once on the water, the volunteer crew searched from the all-weather lifeboat station, up as far as South Beach, including St Catherine’s Island, using lights and a night vision camera whilst Police and Coastguard teams searched the shoreline and town.

As the search progressed, the lifeboat returned to station to retrieve a handheld thermal imaging camera (FLIR) from the all-weather lifeboat.

The camera enables the crew to see in the dark and through bushes and undergrowth on the shoreline, by detecting body heat.

The lifeboat then searched up as far as Giltar, before news came through that the Police had found the person in town, safe and well.

All units stood down, with the lifeboat arriving back at station at 4.15 am.

On Sunday evening Tenby’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat ‘Haydn Miller’ was requested to launch at around 6 pm after Milford Haven Coastguard received a call reporting two paddle boarders in trouble off Stackpole, some 8 miles west of the station.

The lifeboat was on scene within 20 minutes and the volunteer crew immediately spotted the casualties making no progress against and offshore wind and strong ebbing tide.

Once alongside, the casualties were taken aboard the lifeboat, where they were checked over to make sure they needed no medical attention, whilst the boat headed towards Stackpole.

On reaching Stackpole, the paddle boarders were put back into the water, where they paddled into the safety of Stackpole Quay, to be met by members of St Govans cliff rescue team.

The lifeboat then returned to station, arriving at 7.10 pm.