The RNLI’s Borth inshore lifeboat and specialist Flood Rescue Team have been deployed to help holidaymakers trapped in a flooded caravan site on the side of the River Lery near Borth.
The volunteer crew of Borth inshore lifeboat launched at 4.30am this morning (Saturday 9 June) and the charity’s Flood Rescue Team was deployed at 6.15am and is expected to arrive at the scene at 10am.
Borth inshore lifeboat launched onto the River Lery at Dol-y-Bont at the request of the Coastguard to Coastguard Rescue teams, Powys police, the ambulance service. The lifeboat launched to rescue a disabled man in a flooded caravan. The launch was requested as the RAF helicopter was 20 minutes flying time away.
The disabled man was rescued by the Coastguard, so after assessing the situation, the RNLI crew secured their D class lifeboat at the river bank to stand by while people were evacuated from the site by helicopter and road. Those rescued were taken to Borth lifeboat station where they were given blankets and tea and assessed by paramedics.
The force of the river current, with the amount of debris in the water, made returning to their original launch site too dangerous and once everyone had been evacuated, the crew decided to secure the lifeboat and were airlifted to safety by helicopter.
The RNLI’s Flood Rescue Team was deployed at 6.15am this morning and are expected to arrive at Borth with a D class inshore lifeboat and Arancia rescue boat at 10am.
The team, which is supported by Toolstation, is made up of volunteer crew and staff from the charity’s 236 lifeboat stations around the UK and Republic of Ireland. They are specially trained in swift water rescue and are available at 24-hours notice to deploy anywhere in the world where waterborne search and rescue is needed due to natural disaster.
