Burry Port RNLI respond to casualty in water at entrance to harbour

RNLI Burry Port responded to a dramatic incident at Burry Port Harbour recently, with a direct launch instruction from Milford Haven UK Coastguard, to launch eirhr D class ILB to assist a person in difficulty in the water, at the entrance to the Harbour at Burry Port, and being rapidly washed out to sea.

Burry Port RNLI said:

“A friend of the casualty had made a 999 call to Milford UK CG, and with an extremely fast launch from our volunteers, the casualty had been quickly picked up by our ILB crew and taken back to the Lifeboat Station.

By this time Rescue Helicopter 187 had been scrambled from St. Athans, with an eta of 12 minutes, the casualty was assessed at the Station, and had taken in a considerable amount of water, but was conscious and alert.

Rescue 187 landed near the ‘Outer Slip’ at Burry Port East Beach, and with the assistance of Burry Port UK CG Response Team, the helicopter Paramedic was rushed to the Station to carry out an immediate medical assessment of the casualty.

After this assessment, the casualty was conveyed to the waiting Rescue 187, and immediately airlifted to Morriston Hospital.

The incident had taken place about 1 hour after high water, so the tide was ebbing at a fast rate, and with the now very narrow inlet channel to the harbour, a considerably fast current was flowing out of the harbour entrance.

Grateful thanks to the first informant who stayed on the line giving vital information to Milford UK CG, and to the professionalism of all the Emergency Services involved with this incident.

Best wishes to the casualty and we hope for a speedy recovery.”

Library photo of  D class ILB.