The volunteer RNLI crews from Porthcawl and Port Talbot launched the charity’s lifeboats on service early on Wednesday morning to search for a fishing boat in the dark which had run into difficulty between Port Talbot and Ogmore By Sea.

Porthcawl’s RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged at 5.01am and joined the crew from Port Talbot RNLI and the Coastguard Teams from Porthcawl and Port Talbot in the search for a fishing boat and its crew.

A 7 metre fishing boat with two people and a dog onboard had experienced engine difficulties and been swept ashore somewhere between Port Talbot and Ogmore By Sea. The boat had no working VHF radio communications and the people onboard were cold, disorientated and unsure of their location.

Carl Evans, helm of Porthcawl RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat said, ‘we were tasked by UK Coastguard to meet Port Talbot’s D Class lifeboat off Rest Bay. As we arrived at Rest Bay the crew of the Port Talbot lifeboat spotted a flashing light on the shore in the cove area of Rest Bay near to Hutchwns Point. Further investigations including illumination of the area using a white para flare established the fishing vessel and the casualties were on the shore at this location.’

Port Talbot’s crew went ashore and provided casualty care for the two casualties with the assistance of Porthcawl’s D Class crew. The casualties were suffering from the effects of the cold. The casualties were assisted onto Locks Common and transferred to the care of the Coastguard Teams.

With the incoming tide the casualty vessel was at risk of being smashed onto rocks. Porthcawl’s D Class established a tow of the casualty vessel towing it out from the beach and clear of the surf line. Once in deeper water the tow was transferred to Porthcawl’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat which towed the vessel towards Porthcawl Marina. Porthcawl lifeboat stood off until 7.30am when it was possible to gain entry to the marina.

For downloadable media related to this news story: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2019/december/18/porthcawl-and-port-talbot-lifeboats-in-night-time-search-for-fishing-boat