MARITIME AND
COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Press Notice) issued by The
Government News Network on 5 July 2008
At 12.30 this
afternoon (Saturday) Holyhead Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre
(MRCC) received a 999 call from a concerned woman reporting that
her husband was out swimming and had got into difficulty just off
Black Rock Sands near PorthMadog.
Holyhead Coastguard tasked Criccieth Coastguard Rescue Team to
the scene, and requested the launch of Criccieth Lifeboat. Black
Rock Sands Beach Patrol also attended.
Once all units were on scene they were unable to sight the
casualty and so Holyhead Coastguard scrambled RAF Helicopter 122
from RAF Valley to assist in locating the swimmer. They also
requested that the Pwllheli All Weather and Inshore lifeboats be
launched to join in the search.
In the meantime, a search pattern was drawn up taking into
account the strong onshore winds and tidal currents and an
estimated location for the casualty was communicated to the
helicopter. The helicopter arrived at this location and found the
casualty immediately, directing the Criccieth Inshore Lifeboat
towards the man, who recovered him from the water and brought him ashore.
Once ashore the man was treated for mild hypothermia in the
waiting ambulance but did not require hospital treatment.
Carl Hiltunen, Holyhead Coastguard Watch Manager said:
"The swift location and recovery of the 51 year old swimmer
this afternoon was an incredibly successful rescue, and the
welfare of the casualty is a credit to the speed and efficiency of
all units who responded.
Certainly if it had not been for the
rapid response of all resources involved this incident could have
had a very different outcome.
The man had been in the water for over an hour when he was
rescued, and although we are enjoying some unexpected warm weather
today the sea is still cold at this time of year and hypothermia
can set in in as quickly as half an hour even on a sunny day.
The casualty is now being treated on scene by the ambulance for
mild hypothermia but is otherwise safe and well, and we would like
to thank all rescue units involved today for bringing this
incident to a successful conclusion."
Press releases and further information about the Agency is
available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk