EMERGENCY SERVICES RESCUE MAN THOUGHT TO BE IN BREACH OF LOCKDOWN
A MAN has been flown to hospital after falling 30ft on rocks at an Anglesey beach.
A major rescue operation was launched to save the man, who was injured at White Beach in Llangoed, near Beaumaris, at around 1.15am on Thursday.
Police, paramedics, Moelfre and Penmon coastguard teams, Moelfre RNLI’s all weather lifeboat and the team’s inshore lifeboat, and the coastguard’s Rescue 936 helicopter were all called out to help rescue the man as water from the incoming tide approached.
A friend of the “badly injured” man climbed down the cliff to help him but they were unable to get back to safety.
A paramedic was then winched down to the scene by the Rescue 936 helicopter.
The man was airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor with head and back injuries.
His friend was taken back to shore by Moelfre lifeboat to waiting coastguard units on White Beach.
It is understood that the man and his friend were breaking coronavirus “stay local” restrictions.
A coastguard spokesman said that the group are now being dealt with by police for “breaking the Covid-19 restrictions in Wales”.
Volunteer and casualty care trained Moelfre Lifeboat crew member Tom Lomax was first ashore to assist the helicopter winchman.
He said: “When first onscene It was clear from the location and height of the surrounding cliffs that the injuries sustained to anyone falling in that area could be serious.
“The pair, in their 20s, were on the water line, and the injured man was being shielded and kept warm by his friend who had pulled him from the water.
“The lifeboat helm did a great job getting us ashore quickly to provide much needed assistance.
“As the Covid restrictions mean we can’t exercise at the moment, it also makes rescues that little more challenging.
“Our online weekly training sessions are essential to maintain our skills as best possible.
“Given the height of the fall and potential for serious injuries, we knew this rescue was going to be far from routine.
“The efforts of all the rescue agencies involved made it as safe and slick a possible.
“Our lifeboats have remained fully operational during this pandemic, but we urge people to stay safe by the coast during these challenging times.
“We at the station wish the man a speedy recovery.”
The incident came to an end at around 4am.