With weather warnings in place for this weekend RNLI volunteers are encouraging the public to watch Porthcawl RNLI’s live storm footage safely from home or on their mobile device.

The LIVE stream is available by visiting: www.porthcawl-lifeboat.co.uk which gives access to a webcam view of the breakwater and sea conditions. Other key features include latest wind speed and direction, rainfall, temperature, tide times and tide height for that day.

The RNLI advises people to respect the water and not take any risks to experience extreme weather. Storm waves breaking over Porthcawl’s breakwater regularly feature widely in national and international media.

Phil Missen, MBE, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthcawl says:

‘The intention of this webcam was to make our coastline safer for those who use the sea, beaches and coastal walks but also show some spectacular views, especially during stormy weather.

‘We have been amazed by the number of hits our website gets during stormy weather. At one point during a storm, statistics showed it was receiving 300 hits a minute. I’m confident that giving people access to these dramatic scenes from their living rooms helps discourage people from putting themselves at risk. I’d certainly encourage people this weekend to watch the waves crashing safely via our cam and not put themselves in any danger.’

Stephen Jones, Launch Authority at Porthcawl says:

‘This severe weather could make our seas particularly dangerous and unpredictable, with large waves and swells being a major risk.

‘Stormy conditions may be tempting to watch but big waves can easily knock you off your feet. The sea is far more powerful than you think and your chances of survival are slim if you are dragged into the swell. Our volunteer lifeboat crews will always launch to rescue those in danger at sea, but to launch into conditions like these could also put their lives at risk.

‘We understand why people want to experience extreme weather, but it’s not worth risking your life, so we strongly urge people to respect the water and watch from a safe distance. If you see someone else in trouble in the water, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Don’t enter the water yourself as you could also end up in serious danger.’

Notes:
For further information regarding the Porthcawl RNLI live cam contact: Chris Page, Volunteer Helm and Lifeboat Press Officer, Porthcawl RNLI – chris_page@rnli.org.uk