Lifeboat crews battle high seas to resue fishing boat

BOTH Porthcawl lifeboats battled high winds and heavy seas to tow a fishing vessel to safety.

They were called out in horrendous conditions at 7pm on Saturday after HM Coastguard reported a small boat was suffering engine problems.

Faced with a strong incoming tide, the two people on board the craft had decided to beach it at Southerndown and got out onto the sand.

Following discussions with the Llantwit Major Coastguard Unit, which also attended, the Dclass lifeboat Jean Ryall, which can operate in shallow water, towed the stricken vessel off the beach into deeper water.

Crew member Chris Page said: “Weather conditions were deteriorating throughout the call out, the thick drizzle and mist brought visibility down to about a quarter of a mile and the wind gusted up to Force 7.

“During our tow off the beach we had to manoeuvre through breaking waves up to six feet high. Once out beyond the breakers we were able to transfer the tow over to our larger Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Rose of the Shires. Unfortu- nately during the tow to Porthcawl the rough conditions caused the tow line to break twice off Ogmore by Sea.”

Deputy launch authority Aileen Jones said if the boat had been left where it was, it would have been dashed on the rocks by the incoming tide. The fishing boat, which had sailed out of Cardiff, was towed back to Porthcawl Marina and the two crew were taken there by road.

Aileen said: “With our crews at sea for two hours in worsening conditions we were relieved that both the casualties and our crews were safe.”