WARNING TO STORM WATCHERS AS AILEEN BLOWS IN
A COASTGUARD rescue team has warned people to stop risking their lives by taking selfies in front of giant crashing waves at Barry promenade.
Members of the Barry Coastguard Rescue Team said they have been called out this week to prevent people getting close to the water as strong wind caused high waves.
The alert, issued yesterday, came as forecasters issued a weather warning ahead of the expected arrival of Storm Aileen across South Wales, with gusts of 50-60mph expected to hit the region.
Meanwhile, coastguards in Barry said they had been called to reports of people taking selfies as the “waves came crashing” over the promenade wall on Monday.
In a Facebook post the crew said: “Barry Coastguard were tasked to try and stop people getting too near the water as it can bring all sorts of debris with it.
“Most people were understanding and stayed away once safety advice had been given.
“Unfortunately not everybody would listen to the advice given and they put themselves in danger.”
Once the high tide had receded, the crew was stood down.
But the warnings were repeated in light of the new weather warning.
HM Coastguard said: “With high winds expected, the seas can be often be unforgiving and we cannot stress enough that piers, rocks, harbours and the water’s edge are not safe places to be when the weather is bad.
“Playing chicken with waves is extremely dangerous. It can be slippery and because there is little to hold onto even a small wave can come out of nowhere and quickly wash you off and into the sea.
“No photograph or selfie is worth risking your life for.
“We would urge people to think carefully about the risks they take and be extremely careful when near any body of water during bad weather.”
The Met Office yesterday said large parts of Wales were due to be hit today by Storm Aileen, the first named storm of the year.
A yellow weather warning, which covers the whole of Wales, said the storm was expected to bring very strong winds and was in place from 8pm last night to 10am today.