WIREDGOV

A member of the public called at around 12.45 today reporting that he was hearing calls for help off South beach.

Immediately the Tenby all weather lifeboat was requested to respond. A rescue helicopter R169 was also scrambled at the same time.

The Pembroke Coastguard Sector Manager was also asked to respond. An ambulance was sent to the area and the three casualties were brought ashore by lifeboat after being picked up by a local dive boat. One person made it ashore unaided.

One young man, aged 23, seemed to be a very much worse condition that the others, and was airlifted to Withybush hospital. One further person of the same age was taken by land ambulance to the same hospital. The remaining girl on the shoreline, also 23, did not require any additional treatment.

Andrew Hodgson, Watch Manager at Milford Haven Coastguard said afterwards

“It seems that one female went out swimming got to Church Rock - on her return to the beach she found out her boyfriend had gone out after her. Two friends then picked up on her concern, and went back into the water to look for him as he was reported to be a weak swimmer.

“They located the first man who had become tired approx 100yds off shore. Once with him they were unable to bring back ashore as he was too tired and started shouting for help. The car park attendant heard the shouts and raised the alarm. It became obvious to the two young men that he was in trouble as he had gone under the water a few times. They remained with him as he was in a very tired condition and had suffered from ingestion of water.

“A local dive vessel, the ‘Volsung’, upon hearing the Coastguard call for assistance immediately acted upon the broadcast and located the swimmers and then carried out a transfer of the casualties to the Tenby lifeboat, who in turn assisted in the winch operation to get one male into the helicopter after suspected symptoms of secondary drowning. All of the young people are local to Haverford West”

For further information please contact Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: (023) 8032 9401

Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on the Web at www.mcga.gov.uk