Rhyl RNLI issues warning over use of inflatables in sea after busy day

The Rhyl RNLI lifeboat team has issued a warning over the use of inflatables at sea after experiencing a busy day yesterday.

The first call for the inshore lifeboat came at 12.15pm to two inflatables which were being blown out to sea from the Kinmel Bay-side of the River Clwyd.

On arriving at the scene, the inflatables were found to be empty, so the lifeboat crew tracked back against the wind.

Coastguards on shore also arrived, and the owners of the inflatables were found and it was confirmed nobody was on board the inflatables. The inshore lifeboat returned to station at 12.30pm.

The second call for the inshore lifeboat was made by Holyhead Coastguard at 12.51pm, about a person on an inflatable craft off Talacre drifting out to sea.

The person was located by a passing windfarm vessel and taken on board.

The inshore lifeboat then escorted the windfarm boat as they made their way to Mostyn Docks where the casualty was met by local coastguards from Flint. The inshore lifeboat returned to station by 2pm.

The next callout was for the all-weather lifeboat at 2.30pm to search for a kayak with one adult and two children on board being swept out to sea off Talacre.

West Kirby inshore lifeboat crew was also paged and launched. The lifeboats were nearly at Talacre when the local coastguard reported that the dinghy and occupants had managed to get ashore.

The lifeboats were stood down and the lifeboat returned to Rhyl at 4pm.

Andrew Wilde, duty coxswain at Rhyl said: “Whilst these incidents highlighted the fact that small inflatables can easily be taken out to sea in minutes, we are glad these incidents had a successful outcome.

“We advise that if people find themselves in difficulty, to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard. Inflatables are not toys and are not really suited to the sea.”