Callouts Archive 2007

10th December 2007
Swansea Coastguard received a report of two red flares to the South West of Loughor Bridge. The crew launched and participated in an extensive search of the estuary. Burry Port inshore lifeboat was also tasked to the scene. RAF Chivenor were on standby. Shore support was provided by both Loughor and Rhosilli Coastguard Coastal Rescue Teams. After a thorough methodical search was completed, and no further reports received, the search was called off and all units stood down.

26th October 2007
Paged by Swansea coastguard after reports of person in danger on sewage pipe 100 metres downstream from Loughor railway bridge. Coastguard established that the ebbing tide presented no danger to the individual and the crew were stood down.

2nd October 2007
Loughor Inshore rescue boat supports major search and rescue operation in Loughor Estuary.
A small fishing boat with 3 persons on board was reported to have sunk in the vicinity of Whitford Lighthouse. The crew were paged by Swansea Coastguard at 20:44hrs. After assembling vital equipment, the boat and crew proceeded at full speed to the search area. Burry Port, Tenby and Ferryside lifeboats were also tasked to the search area. Additional search support was provided by the RAF Chivenor, coastguard coastal rescue teams and other vessels, in one of the largest operations in the area in recent years. One person was recovered successfully soon after the incident by a boat that happened to be in the area. Sadly, despite the extensive and rigorous search by everyone involved, the other two were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Once all persons had been accounted for, the crews were stood down and the boat returned to station

Visit the BBC News Website for more details    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7025388.stm

27th August 2007 (Bank Holiday Monday)
At around 1920hrs, Swansea Coastguard paged the crew to attend an incident off the Penclawdd shoreline. Having established that there was an injured person at the scene, the boat was launched with 4 crew and additional medical equipment. Within 10 minutes of launching, they arrived on scene to find a jet skier with leg injuries in the care of ambulance personnel. Loughor Coastguard was also in attendance, and required the boat to assist with the casualty transfer to the ambulance back on shore. However, medical professionals on scene decided that the casualty's condition was such that helicopter transfer was necessary. The boat ferried vital additional medical equipment to the scene from the attending ambulance and, minutes later, the police helicopter landed at the scene. The crew assisted with the casualty-to-aircraft transfer and ferried all remaining personnel ashore after the helicopter had departed.

3rd July 2007
Crew paged by Swansea CG at 21:00hrs after reports of a pony in distress on Penclawdd marsh. The Fire Brigade were already in attendance, and the lifeboat was launched to assist in the incident. Once on scene, Loughor CG advised that the search was for a foal in the vicinity of a horse that was separated by a considerable distance from the rest of the herd. The horse was over 1 mile out into the Marsh from the main Penclawdd to Gowerton road. Two crew members went ashore from the lifeboat in the main channel to conduct a shore search, as there had been no sign of a foal since their arrival on scene. After wading through numerous pills, they managed to get close enough to the horse to see a foal lying on the ground. After observing, and consulting with the coastguard it was agreed that sadly, the foal was already dead and unfortunately there was nothing anyone could do. With night falling, the tide ebbing and a stiff breeze, the crew returned to station at around 22:45pm

24th June 2007
We were paged by Swansea Coastguard at 13:18hrs, to assist a cow stuck in mud approx. 3/4 mile upstream from Llangennech. The cow turned out to be a young bull, and Loughor auxiliary coastguard were concerned that he would be covered and drowned by the rising tide. The lifeboat was launched, but was unable to travel far enough upstream due to tidal conditions. The crew deployed the smaller auxiliary vessel from near the sewage works at Llangennech. This combined with a shore team managed to free the animal and guide him safely ashore.

Having returned to station and cleaned the equipment the crew were about to leave for our homes, when a boat was spotted stuck on a sand bank upstream of the Loughor Boating club. The crew responded immediately and launched in readiness, but the skipper of the stricken vessel managed to clear the sandbank and return safely.

21st June 2007
The call came at around 13:45hrs to assist a boat that had run aground in Machynys pill. The tide had already dropped significantly as it was 2hrs after high water. Despite this, the crew launched the lifeboat in the hope that there would be sufficient water in the estuary. Unfortunately, the lifeboat grounded in low water conditions and the crew had to sit it out until the tide turned. As soon as there was sufficient water, the boat was floated and proceeded to recover the casualty vessel. After towing the vessel back to Loughor, the crew eventually left the station at 23:30hrs - over nine hours after the original call.

16th June 2007
Swansea Coastguard paged the crew to attend a person in potential danger. The crew were stood down shortly after the call as local police had resolved the incident.

17th April 2007
Tasked by Coastguard to rescue two persons 'cut off' by tide. The lifeboat was launched, and on scene within minutes after being paged. Two people and their dog were rescued having been cut off on a sandbank by the rapidly rising spring tide. Although all casualties were unharmed (apart from wet legs and feet), they were minutes away from being swept off the bank. The crew commented afterwards that the tide run was almost taking their feet away as they waded from the boat to the casualties.

26th January 2007
Requested to standby for launch, as person was threatening to jump off Loughor bridge. Police talked person down. Boat stood down before launch.