On 1 January at 5.55pm both St Davids RNLI relief all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and inshore lifeboat (ILB) under the command of Coxswain David John and Helmsman Mike Rogers respectively, launched on service following reports of a sighting of a red distress flare by a member of the public.
The flare had been sighted between Solva Harbour and Newgale Beach.
Both lifeboats with their volunteer crews were instructed by the coastguards to conduct a search between these two points. The ILB started it’s search by going into Solva Harbour and then conducted a shoreline search to Newgale. The ALB carried out a visual and radar search with the radar doing a sweep of an area of St Brides Bay passed Newgale, nothing was found.
After a long and thorough search by both lifeboats with all points covered, the search was terminated, and the incident treated as a false alarm with good intent.
Both lifeboats arrived back at station at 8.10pm.
