The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Barry dock lifeboat were called to two boys who got into difficulty off Cold Knap point, Barry.
The drama commenced when the two boys were seen to be entering the water off the Cold Knap Point and started to swim towards the outfall pipe. Onlookers noticed one boy struggling and the other trying to rescue his friend but got into worse difficulty. The onlookers called HM Coastguard and consequently the RNLI’s Barry Dock lifeboat was launched and the ‘boarding’ boat was also deployed.
When the RNLI ‘boarding’ boat arrived on scene with volunteer crew Dean Caldwell and Dave Brookes it was like a repeat feeling of when they were instrumental in a similar incident last year when they were able to resuscitate one youngster from the brink of death. This time the boys were able to reach the rocks but needed the expert assessment and treatment by the RNLI Barry Dock lifeboat crew.
One of the boys was taken by a South Wales Ambulance service crew and the other boy was airlifted by the RAF Rescue Helicopter and both taken to the University Hospital of Wales. Both the boys were suffering from the effects of cold and some injuries.
Gerry Adams, the RNLI Volunteer Barry Dock Lifeboat Press Officer said:
‘This could have easily ended in disaster had it not been for the early reporting of the incident. Members of the public are reminded that the ‘outfall’ pipe is a working piece of equipment and is placed in a ‘current’ area for a reason. It should not be used to challenge ones swimming prowess.’
