‘TOTALLY STUPID!‘
Men’s danger sea stunt condemned as Storm Ellen batters Wales:
STORM Ellen blasted across Wales, causing flood alerts, power cuts and road and bridge closures.
Combined with extra-high “spring tides”, the impact on the coastline was dramatic.
Authorities warned the public to take extra care at the coast over this weekend.
But despite the warnings to take care on the coast, a man was pictured doing backflips into stormy seas as Ellen hit the Welsh coastline on Thursday night.
As waves pummelled into the concrete seawall, three unknown men took it in turns to launch themselves into the water at Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire.
Dave Richards, harbourmaster at Saundersfoot, said the actions of the three men were “totally stupid” and risked putting unnecessary strain on the RNLI and Coastguard at peak summertime.
Around 100 people had gathered in the car park to watch the spectacle of the 8pm high tide which coincided with high winds from the named storm.
At one point, a bystander threw a life buoy from the car park into the water for one of the men to cling on to and dragged him back towards dry land.
One witness who lives locally, who didn’t want to be named, said there was “no shame” from the three men, all of whom had jumped into the water.
“I really think if it hadn’t have been for the life ring, he would have been a goner,” he said. “It was just so dangerous. When he was pulled out, there wasn’t so much as a thank you from him.”
Another bystander, in orange highvis clothing, was pictured clambering on to the sloping sides to pull the swimmer out. Pembrokeshire Council and the Saundersfoot Harbour Authority have both confirmed none of their officers were involved or were at the scene at the time.
Harbourmaster Mr Richards said:
“It’s totally stupid to think you can jump in the sea in the middle of a gale like that.
“It’s a shame they would have put strain on the RNLI and the Coastguard if they had got into trouble. It’s totally unacceptable. Common sense should prevail.”
Yesterday, a Yellow Met Office weather warning covered the whole of Wales – and at one stage there were 17 flood warnings.
The most serious alerts covered Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Dale, Amroth, Newgale, Pendine and the Carmarthen Bay Holiday Park near Kidwelly.
In Aberystwyth, the RNLI advised pedestrians and drivers to take care at the sea front.
There were problems across the UK. A holidaymaker died and a teenage boy is recovering in hospital after they got into difficulty in the sea off the Cornish coast.
The M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions and there was a 30mph speed limit on the A55 Britannia Bridge in north Wales.
There were also speed restrictions due to high winds on the M4.
Rhigos Road, in Rhondda Cynon Taff, was closed in both directions because of a fallen tree between Halt Road and Mount Road.
Western Power Distribution said they were called to a series of power cuts, caused by the high winds.
In total, 1,614 customers in Wales were left with no power at one stage.
RNLI lifeguards said several beaches would be “red-flagged” for no swimming until tomorrow.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) warned flood alerts could remain in force until tomorrow, but the peak in water levels was likely to be over before this morning.
NRW’s own flood alerts were in force in a number of locations – between the Gower in Swansea and further west in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
The areas affected include the North Gower Coast at Crofty, Swansea Bay and the Gower peninsula coast between Pontarddulais, Llantwit Major and the Carmarthenshire coast between Pendine and Hendy.
A spokeswoman for NRW said: “High tides are predicted until Sunday. Tide levels will be high over the entire period on each high tide, and the winds are forecast to be Force 4-5 through the period.
“Offshore waves are expected to be moderate to large. Be careful on beaches, promenades, coastal footpaths, roads, low-lying land close to the estuary.”
In north Wales, NRW said its warnings covered the whole coastline from the Dee Estuary down to mid Wales.
Lifeguards said beaches in Swansea could be “very dangerous” over the weekend as red flag warnings were issued.
The warning comes as two people were rescued by lifeboat crews and coastguards after getting cut off on Swansea’s West Pier because of a “very high tide”.
Pictures showed huge waves crashing on to the pier at around 8pm on Thursday, completely submerging parts of it.
The pier is currently closed to the public and access is made particularly dangerous by strong winds and the high tide at this time of year.
In a statement, RNLI Swansea said: “We strongly recommend that everyone takes extra care on the coast during this period.
“If you are going to the beach, make sure you visit a lifeguarded one and only swim between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by lifeguards.”
■ If you see anyone in trouble on the coast, alert the lifeguards or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.