The incident happened at approximately 4.30pm on Friday, July 31, when a woman fell ill while visiting Caldey Island, near Tenby. Coastguards at the scene requested additional help, prompting two Tenby RNLI vessels to be deployed.
While the all-weather lifeboat waited at the station for a Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic, the inshore lifeboat was sent first to deliver initial medical care to the casualty.
Lifeboat crew reached woman on Priory Bay beach
Tenby Lifeboats RNLI said on Facebook: "The volunteer crew quickly located the woman on the beach at Priory Bay, and several crew members went ashore to assess her condition."
Shortly afterwards, the all-weather lifeboat arrived carrying the paramedic, along with several members of Tenby Coastguard rescue team, who were tasked with setting up a landing site for a Coastguard helicopter also en route from Cardiff.
Woman flown to Cardiff hospital
The Facebook post added: "The paramedic, more lifeboat crew and the coastguard were conveyed ashore, with the paramedic taking over treatment, assisted by the lifeboat crew."
The coastguard helicopter then touched down at the location. The post continued: "The casualty was immobilised, placed onto a stretcher, and loaded into the aircraft, where the coastguard paramedic took over treatment during the flight to the hospital in Cardiff."
With the casualty on the way to hospital, the coastguard team and ambulance paramedic were transported back aboard the lifeboat before it returned to Tenby.
About Caldey Island
Caldey Island sits less than a mile from the Pembrokeshire coast, around a 20-minute boat journey from Tenby. It is home to a monastic community founded after the Norman conquest, today run by a Cistercian order. The island is a favoured spot for holidaymakers, who explore its village, ancient priory, historic church and chocolate factory, alongside wildlife-rich walking routes.
