A paddleboarder has shared her emotional account of being caught in a strong tide and driven onto rocks near North Stack on Anglesey, where she became stranded as darkness fell. The incident occurred on Thursday evening, prompting a rescue by Holyhead RNLI.
Caught in a Strong Current
The paddleboarder explained that she was captured by a powerful current while on her stand-up paddleboard (SUP). She managed to stay calm and float with the current until reaching the shore. “I was captured by the strong current on my SUP board. I managed to stay calm and float with it until I got to shore,” she said. “At this point I was happy to be alive. Then I called 999 and asked for the Coastguard. They said you'd be coming, and the rescue was there in no time. I was very lucky that I had reception and could ring for help as it was getting dark and my position was hopeless.”
RNLI Response
The RNLI Holyhead Lifeboat Station received the call at 9:38 PM on June 25. The paddleboarder had become caught in a tidal race and swept into a nearby cove. According to the station, “Knowing she could not get out due to the strength of the current, she immediately called for help. She reported to HM Coastguard that she was not in immediate danger, but unable to get out of the cove herself.”
The inshore lifeboat (ILB) and shore crew assembled and launched the lifeboat, reaching the location within minutes. They found her on rocks with her paddleboard. After checking her welfare, she was found to be well and extremely relieved to see the crew. The lifeboat positioned its bow against the rocks to allow her and her paddleboard to come aboard. She was returned to shore at Holyhead by approximately 10:30 PM and given further safety advice.
Safety Recommendations
The casualty has since asked for recommendations for a good flotation device. The RNLI advises that anyone going on the water, even on a calm day, should wear a suitable buoyancy aid or lifejacket and have a means of calling for help.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave Owens praised the crew, saying, “Once again, the crew headed out, despite the extreme heat, to rescue someone they had never met, so a huge thank you to them all. I'd also like to praise the casualty for knowing exactly what to do once she realised she was in trouble, which enabled us to get to her before darkness fell, and sea conditions deteriorated.”
