A paddleboarder and her dog were rescued after becoming trapped at the base of cliffs on the Anglesey coastline during a severe thunderstorm. The incident occurred last Wednesday evening, when Moelfre RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was launched following reports of the pair stranded near Cemaes Bay.
The lifeboat crew faced torrential rain and an electrical storm overhead as they raced to the scene. Upon arrival, they deployed the small Y-boat, navigating through rocky, shallow water to reach the woman and her dog. Both were unharmed but suffering from cold and exposure amid the lightning and heavy rain.
The pair were swiftly rescued, provided with thermal protection, and brought ashore to the waiting Cemaes Bay Coastguard Rescue Team. The storm caused heavy interference, making communication between agencies difficult. The shore crew waited for a break in the weather to safely recover the lifeboat.
Moelfre Coxswain Vince Jones described the rescue as a first in his 25-year career, noting that the casualty's paddleboard had partially deflated, leaving her trapped. He praised the crew's careful work in tough conditions, with wind squalls topping 25 knots and a severe weather warning issued just an hour before the incident.
