Don't Drink And Drown!

... be sea smart.

: The Angle Inshore Lifeboat the "Isabella Mary", which was launched last saturday following a report of 5 people struggling in the River Cleddau, under the Cleddau Bridge.; Image by: RNLI

by Angela Smith - DPRO - Milford Haven Coastguard

June 01, 2006

Following a call from a member of the public at 9.30pm last Saturday (27th May) stating that 5 persons were struggling in the River Cleddau under the Cleddau Bridge at Burton, the Angle RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was launched and Dale Coastguard Team were despatched to the scene.

The new Port Authority Pilot Boat 'Skomer', which was officially named at a ceremony in Pembroke Dock last Friday, was also sent to the area.

The tug ‘Sarah Gray' was already in the vicinity and had taken 3 men (2 in their middle ages and one in his twenties) on board, after they were found clinging to the upturned hull of an inflatable dinghy. Two young girls were still in the water.

As the tug was approaching the girls, a ‘Dory', with one helmsman aboard, came on the scene and picked the girls out of the water. The three men then requested to be transferred to the ‘Dory' which was duly done. By this time the Angle ILB was on scene together with Dale Coastguard Team, an ambulance and the Dyfed Powys Police attending on shore.

The ‘Dory' then made off in an erratic manner and sped upstream with the inflatable in tow.

In order to establish all were safe and accounted for, the Inshore Lifeboat was detailed to follow the vessel and make contact. ‘The ‘Dory', was not displaying navigation lights, and was seen by the ILB to be driven from side to side of the river and at an excessive speed.

: The new Port Authority Pilot Boat 'Skomer', which was officially named at a ceremony in Pembroke Dock last Friday.; Image by: Todd Harrison

In the fading light a person was seen by the crew of the yacht ‘ Liberty ' to fall off the ‘Dory' into the river. A male was picked up by the ‘ Liberty ' and returned to the ‘Dory'.

At Blacktar Point, Llangwm, some 4 nautical miles upstream, the ‘Dory' pulled into the shore and was met by Police and Coastguards.

It was established that all the persons involved were safe and local. Although some were in survival suits, the five had been, initially, in the water for approx. 45minutes and were suffering the effects of the cold, but declined medical attention. Police made further enquiries and the helmsman of the ‘Dory' was subsequently taken into custody.

Alcohol appears to have had a significant influence on boat handling skills in this incident, and the persons in the water also appeared to have been drinking before falling off the inflatable.

A potential terrible tragedy was averted by the quick thinking of the crew of the tug ‘Sarah Gray', the Yacht ‘Liberty' and the efforts of the Coastguard and Lifeboat teams.

The message we wish to instil on our boating fraternity is 'By all means have fun and relax', but:

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT DRINK AND THE WATER DON'T MIX AND IN SOME PLACES IT CAN BE AN OFFENCE TO BE IN CHARGE OF A VESSEL WHILST OVER THE PRESCRIBED LIMIT OF ALCOHOL.

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