Porthcawl RNLI were called to a yacht responding to a Mayday call last Sunday. The yacht then suffered engine failure themselves while trying to aid the other vessel. A helicopter and Port Talbot Lifeboat were also tasked to assist the two craft.
A yacht on passage from Swansea to Porthcawl responded to a Mayday call from another vessel which was experiencing difficulty in the Port Talbot area. As with any Mayday call any vessel in the vicinity is required to offer assistance. The yacht altered course and headed towards the casualties position, unfortunately the yacht itself suffered a problem with a fouled propeller and was unable to use its engine thus rendering the yacht out of action.
Port Talbot Lifeboat was launched to assist the first casualty vessel and Porthcawl Lifeboat was launched to assist the yacht that was bound for Porthcawl. The sea conditions on Sunday were rough and a force 5 to 6 wind caught out many mariners.
One of the crew onboard the yacht had a medical condition that would need attention in the next hour or two.
The Lifeboat reached the yacht in a short time and Helmsman Simon Emms made the decision to evacuate the crew member. Helicopter Rescue 169 from RAF Chivenor was in the vicinity and was requested to airlift the crewman to shore.
Porthcawl Lifeboat towed the yacht safely back to Porthcawl harbour a few hours later where the fouled propeller was repaired. The helicopter landed at Salt Lake car park where the airlifted casualty was delivered safely to local Coastguards who were then able to get him to his required medication.
Phil Missen, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthcawl said:
‘Only a few weeks previous, the RAF helicopter had exercised with our Lifeboat in the Porthcawl area offering valuable training which was put to good use on this particular call out.’
