Just after 6am Tuesday morning, the Porthcawl volunteer RNLI Lifeboat crew were called to reports of a person in difficulties in the water near the notorious Witches Point, Southerndown.

Both lifeboats were launched immediately, and the larger Atlantic 85 Lifeboat reached the casualty first. Volunteer RNLI Helmsman Ross Purchase who was in charge of the lifeboat said “when we reached Witches Point we could see a man on the rocks waving to us and pointing to the water. We followed his signals and Crew Member Chris Missen was the first to catch sight of the fisherman in the water. When we saw him, he was struggling to keep afloat, and I made my way to him through big 2-3 meter waves.

“When I got as close as I could to him, volunteer crewman Carl Evans jumped into the water to hold him afloat, as he was not wearing any floatation device, and I was concerned that he would go under the water. He was then assisted to the lifeboat by Crewmen Lewis Evans and Chris Missen, who pulled him in to safety.

“I am sure that if we had not got to him when we did, the outcome could have been very different, as he had been in the water quite a time in just jeans and a tee shirt, and due to the large waves at Witches Point, there was no way he could have got out.”

Deputy Launching Authority Aileen Jones said “this was a fantastic rescue by our volunteer crew in such a dangerous area. The fisherman was very lucky to survive, as his friend who was with him called 999 on his mobile phone, and informed the coastguard that he was in the water. This highlights the need to ensure that when fishing in such areas around the coast it is important that you do not go alone. Always go with someone, and inform family and friends of exactly where you are going and what time you expect to be home.”