An 84-year-old man was rescued after falling overboard while attempting to return to his yacht off the Tenby coast in a dramatic late-night lifeboat operation. Both Tenby RNLI lifeboats were launched shortly before 10.30pm on Friday, July 17, after HM Coastguard received a Mayday distress call from a yacht anchored in North Bay. The call reported that the elderly man appeared to be in difficulty while travelling in a tender after returning from shore in Tenby.
Search and Rescue Operation
According to Tenby Lifeboats RNLI, the all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat were quickly on the water and began searching separate areas. The all-weather lifeboat searched from St Catherine's Island to the North Highcliffe buoy, while the inshore lifeboat focused on the esplanade. During the search the crew of the inshore lifeboat fired a white parachute flare to illuminate the area. The increased visibility allowed them to spot the tender, but on closer inspection it was found to be empty. Moments later the crew heard shouts for help coming from the water.
A member of the public, Josh Dean, had meanwhile rushed to the lifeboat station to report seeing the tender being swept into the cave beneath St Catherine's Island. Using this information, lifeboat crews quickly located the casualty clinging to rocks after being carried by the strong current when he fell overboard.
Rescue and Medical Assessment
The man was immediately brought aboard the lifeboat, where crews warmed him and carried out an initial assessment to ensure he did not require urgent medical treatment. He was then taken back to Tenby Harbour and placed in the care of Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team while awaiting an ambulance.
Tribute to Quick-Thinking Member of Public
Following the rescue, Tenby RNLI paid tribute to Josh Dean for his quick thinking. "The information Josh provided was invaluable," the station said in a statement. "It undoubtedly saved valuable time during the search, helping our crews locate the casualty more quickly and ultimately contributing to saving his life."
