A busy period for Angle’s RNLI crew continued on Monday night (September 19), when the lifeboat was tasked after 8 pm, to search for a vessel that had been reported overdue.

The vessel, a 20ft pleasure fishing vessel with two persons onboard, was last seen at 8.30 am that morning, and had failed to return ashore at 4 pm as expected.

Dale Coastguard rescue team had initially been tasked to search the shoreline and local pontoons however nothing was found.

The coastguard had made multiple attempts to contact the vessel on VHF, spoken to other boats in the area and issued a PanPan broadcast with no success.

With the vessel now over four hours overdue, and with no indication of where the missing boat could be, the all-weather lifeboat was requested to search the north shore within the haven, and then proceed out to Grassholm island to conduct a search.

At this time, St David’s all-weather lifeboat and Coastguard rescue helicopter R187 had also been tasked to assist in the search.

Whilst the lifeboat was passing Skokholm island, new information was received. The two casualties had finally been able to dial 999 and speak to the coastguard, where their position was then able to be obtained.

With the position plotted, some 10 miles south of the lifeboats current position, both the lifeboat and helicopter altered course and best speed to the reported position. Whilst on route to the position, the lifeboat crew used the radar to pinpoint a target which matched up with the information that was given by the casualty vessel.

With the lifeboat just a few miles from the missing boat, the casualties fired a red distress flare, which was then used to confirm that this target was in fact the casualties. The coastguard helicopter was first to locate the vessel, they provided illumination via searchlights until the lifeboat arrived alongside.

Once alongside, it was established that both persons were safe and well, and that they had broken down at around 2 pm, and had been adrift for nearly 8 hours without any way of calling for help.

A tow was connected, and the vessel was towed back to Gelliswick beach, arriving safely ashore at midnight. With the boat now back on the beach, the lifeboat was stood down to return to station, arriving back on the slip and closing down by 12.15 am.

On Sunday, the Angle lifeboat crew were tasked to rescue two swimmers and a dog in difficulty at the base of the cliffs at St Govan’s Head.

The crew set off at 3.15 pm, following a 999 call, with the all-weather lifeboat launching and making best speed to St Govan’s.

Once on scene, the casualties were located on rocks beneath the headland, and the lifeboat’s inflatable Y boat was deployed ashore.

The two casualties were taken onboard and transferred ashore at New Quay bay, where the coastguard rescue team from St Govan’s were waiting to receive them.

Happy that no further medical assistance was required, the lifeboat was stood down to return to station, arriving back on station at 5.40 pm.

It’s proved to be a busy period for Angle’s RNLI crew, with up to six shouts in one week leading into September over the summer, with calls ranging from rescuing yachts in difficulty, to assisting in the medical evacuation of an elderly lady who had suffered a back injury onboard a speedboat while celebrating her 81st birthday!