Shouts 2007

Below are the Lifeboat Rescues for Aberystwyth from this year.
Latest Shouts appear on the home page of the site, and are archived here as new shouts are added.
Previous years shouts can be found at

Lifeboat Rescues 2006
Lifeboat Rescues 2005
Lifeboat Rescues 2004
Lifeboat Rescues 2003
Lifeboat Rescues 2002

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 30 June 07	Time:06:48	Weather:Overcast	Wind Force 2-3
	Visibility:Ok	Crew: B Harrison, E Heckley, G Bell, M Evans
	A member of the public spotted an object in the water which they believed to be a person. They rang 999 and informed the coastguard who then requested the launch of Aberystwyth lifeboat and also the Coastguard Mobile unit to go to the scene and investigate. The lifeboat crew soon turned up at station and the boat was launched to the Constitution Hill area where they were guided to the exact location by the Coastguard who were with the first informant. After a brief search of the area nothing was found. The boat then searched along the base of the Cliffs and after finding nothing, the lifeboat was stood down. It was decided that the tops of the rocks visible at the time were what had been seen, but were now not visible due to the rising tide. A false alarm with good intent and the lifeboat crew returned home. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:Mon 25 June 2007	Time:04:28	Weather:Ok	Wind Force:4
Visibility: OK-poor	Crew:B Harrison, T Chase, S Gill
The crew were waken in the early hours to the sound of their pagers alerting them to to the fact that someone may be in danger. The crew assembled at the boathouse and the boat was in the water and heading off to sea within 10 minutes of the first pager beep, testament to the dedication of the crew. The shout was to search for a person who had informed the police that they were entering the sea. Items belonging to the casualty were identified and the search began in that area. A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley was also tasked to come and assist in the search, as were Borth Lifeboat. During the search Aberystwyth Lifeboat were informed that one of the officers near to Constitution Hill had heard someone calling, both lifeboats were immediately sent to the area, where the casualty was spotted hanging onto some rocks. With its close inshore capabilities, Borth lifeboat went into the rocky area and recovered the casualty and then proceeded to Main beach Aberystwyth where the casualty was transferred to ambulance. Both lifeboats were then stood down and returned to station. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Wed 20 June 07	Time:11:07	Weather:Overcast	Wind Force 4-5
	Visibility:Ok	Crew: C Williams, T Chase, I Brandreth
	Whilst Aberystwyth lifeboat was assisting the coastguard in the previous shout, the 73m, 2983 tonnes vessel CEFAS Endeavour was making a ship to shore, radio to phone link to a doctor, concerning one of their crewmen who had sustained an injury to his hand earlier in the week. The doctor was not happy with the sound of the injury and advised that the casualty come ashore and seek medical attention. Milford Haven Coastguard liaised with the vessel and the Aberystwyth Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM). Happy that everything had been done on the previous shout, they stood the lifeboat down and then retasked them to assist in a Medical Evacuation (Medivac). The LOM had informed the Coastguard that a Paramedic was on the crew and was available at the station. The lifeboat then diverted back to Aberystwyth and picked up the Paramedic crewman before heading South to rendezvous with the large CEFAS vessel. The lifeboat took about 15 minutes to meet the vessel which was heading North to shorten the distance. On arrival the casualty was transferred to the Lifeboat where he was assessed. He had sustained an injury to his hand but was quite able to walk and talk. The lifeboat returned to Aberystwyth and transferred the casualty to a waiting ambulance, before being rehoused. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:Wed 20 June 2007	Time:10:06	Weather:Ok	Wind Force:4
Visibility: OK-poor	Crew:C Williams, T Chase, E Heckley.
The lifeboat was asked to go and assist the coastguard and police who had recovered a body from the beach below Morfa Bychan caravan park. It was identified that there may have been another person involved. The coastguard carried out a shoreline search and saw what was possibly a person further South but with a fast incoming tide, they were unable to access the area. The lifeboat was requested and soon arrived on scene and was directed to the area over the radio. The lifeboat carefully made its way in close, in what is a very rocky area and got close enough to ascertain that it was nothing more than a collection of rubbish washed up by the tide. The lifeboat was asked to carry out a shoreline search on their way back to the station. Just after an hour after launching the lifeboat was informed that no further information had come to light regarding a second person, and the coastguard was happy for the lifeboat to stand down from the search. The lifeboat was then retasked to a medivac. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Mon 18 June 07	Time:20:28	Weather:Overcast	Wind Force 1-2
	Visibility:Good	Crew: M Webster, C Foulston, S Gill, G Burchell
	The crew were paged and asked to launch the lifeboat to go and assist the police and coastguard mobile units to look for a missing person. The description of the person was passed to the crew and a search began from Aberystwyth harbour, South to Morfa Bychan Caravan park. Borth lifeboat was also launched and began searching from Clarach to Aberystwyth. Borth lifeboat found a person at the bottom of Constitution Hill and after approaching and speaking to the person identified it was not the missing person. Both lifeboats and the Coastguard continued to search. All parties were informed that information had come to light that the missing person may be armed with a knife and that all care should be taken. After two hours of searching nothing was found and both lifeboats were returned to station. Shortly afterwards the casualty was found and taken to Bronglais hospital, he was very wet and had at some point been avoiding the searchers by hiding in the river. With this the coastguard teams stood down and also returned to station. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:Tue 12 June 2007	Time:02:47	Weather:Good	Wind Force:2-3
Visibility: OK	Crew:D Lloyd, G Burchell, P Williams, E Heckley.
A motor boat was on passage from Arklow to Aberystwyth when it suffered failure in one of its engines. The other engine was fine and so the crew carried on to their destination. Travelling on one engine slowed the boat down, and it eventually arrived off Aberystwyth late on Monday night. Whilst trying to navigate towards the harbour, the boat appeared to have no steering and so they dropped anchor and notified the Marina. The coastguard were informed and they made contact with the occupants. The lifeboat operations manager was informed of the situation and it was decided to launch the lifeboat around 3 in the morning when the tide had sufficient water to bring the boat into the harbour safely. Just before 3 the crew were paged and the boat soon launched. The casualty vessel was taken under tow into Aberystwyth harbour and put onto a mooring. The occupants were very tired and one was feeling a little sick but required no medical attention. The owner of the boat thanked the lifeboat crew, and the lifeboat returned to station and the crew went home to bed. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Mon 11 June 07	Time:10:55	Weather:Warm	Wind Force 1-2
	Visibility:V Good	Crew: T Chase, A Braddick, E Heckley
	Aberystwyth lifeboat was asked to launch and go and investigate reports from a member of the public of a capsized vessel. The mobile coastguard team were also tasked and arrived on scene first. From the shoreline they could assess that the object was in fact a raft, which had probably come loose from the harbour after a previous weekends raft race. They advised the lifeboat of this and requested that they continue to launch and recover the raft as it was a possible shipping hazard, and it was also highly likely many more people would see it and call it in as a possible upturned vessel. The lifeboat towed the raft back to Aberystwyth harbour. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:7 June 2007	Time:12:10	Weather:Good	Wind Force:1-2
Visibility: Good	Crew:D Lloyd, T Chase, P Williams
Aberystwyth based fishing boat 'Boy Scott' was unfortunate to foul its prop on one of its own lobster pot lines approximately 3 miles South of Aberystwyth. The registered fishing boats skipper tried to phone a number of people from the harbour to go down and assist him, but no one was available or could reach the position quickly. During the time taken to make these calls the boat was drifting nearer and nearer to the rocky shore. Despite having a fully working VHF radio on board the skipper eventually got hold of one of the crew by phone and asked him to come and assist. The crew member passed this request to the Lifeboat Operations Manager who quickly paged the crew and then passed the details to Milford Haven Coastguard who contacted the vessel via VHF to get further information. The lifeboat was soon in the water and heading South at full speed. When the lifeboat arrived on scene they found that the casualty had drifted very close to the rocks. The fishing vessel had no anchor as this had been lost at some point, but they did have a line out with some weights on it to try and slow the drift down. The lifeboat took the casualty under tow and towed him out to deeper water and back to Aberystwyth harbour. If the delay in getting assistance had been any longer then this shout could have had a very different and sad outcome. We recommend that all vessels carry a VHF radio and use this to report any problems through the correct channels to the Coastguard. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 2 June 07	Time:14:57	Weather:Warm & Overcast	Wind Force 0-1
	Visibility:V Good	Crew: T Chase, B Harrison, G Bell, E Heckley
	Crew member Tom Chase was last week assessed and promoted into position as a Helmsman for Aberystwyth Lifeboat. Today (Sat 2 June), Tom carried out his first Shout as helmsman. The crew were paged and asked to go and investigate reports of a possible person in the water, just off Tan-y-Bwlch beach South of Aberystwyth Harbour. Tom picked his crew and the lifeboat was soon on scene just off the beach. Aberystwyth Coastguard were also on scene and after locating the first informant, they managed to guide the lifeboat to the position of the casualty. When the lifeboat arrived on scene, it was discovered that the person was in fact a black pot bouy which from a distance did resemble a head. With everyone happy the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station. The shout was put down to a false alarm with good intent. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:18th May 2007	Time:18:38	Weather:V Poor	Wind Force:6-7 Gustin 8
Visibility: Ok	Crew:D Lloyd, T Chase, N Thompson
The lifeboat, its crew and the shore team were put to the test for todays shout. The coastguard requested the launch of Aberystwyth lifeboat to go and look for a kayaker who had last been seen approximately a mile off the shore. The launching authority decided that with a low tide and the large confused seas at the harbour entrance, then the boat should be launched from main beach. New Quay all weather lifeboat was also requested to help with the search and provide cover for Aberystwyth in the deteriorating conditions. The lifeboat, tractor and equipment were all taken to main beach and the lifeboat was launched into the heavy seas, where the crew began a rough trip to the search area. After the lifeboat was launched the tractor suffered difficulty pulling itself out of the sea with the trailer. The tractor is designed for such an eventuality and it is possible to seal down all the electrical and engine compartment allowing the tractor to be left and recovered fully working at a later date if need be. However this was not the case as the tractor was extracted from the beach and made its way back to the station. The aim is always to make sure the lifeboat is launched safely and quickly as it was on this occasion. After a while searching in steep and windy seas, the kayaker was found to be safely ashore, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station. New Quay lifeboat stood by until our boat was safely in the harbour and then started its own long trip back. Please leave comments by clicking here - [UPDATED WITH PHOTOS].   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 12 May 07	Time:14:57	Weather:Cold & overcast	Wind Force 4-5
	Visibility:Good	Crew: B Harrison, T Chase, G Bell
	The crew were paged today to go and help two males who had been cut off by the tide between Constitution Hill and Clarach. The lifeboat was launched into the harbour and soon made its way to Constitution Hill where they started a search for the missing people. The two young males were soon spotted near to the base of Constitution Hill, where they had attempted to climb up the rocks and were estimated to be 4 metres above the sea level. The lifeboat advised that the Aberystwyth Coastguard Cliff rescue team would be able to recover the casualties safely. Whilst the cliff team were setting up, the lifeboat stood by in case they were needed. The cliff team managed to recover both casualties safely to the top, where they were then taken to Aberystwyth. With the Cliff team safely back at the top with their equipment recovered the lifeboat returned to station. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:2nd May 2007	Time:15:32	Weather:Good	Wind Force:3-4
Visibility: Good	Crew:D Lloyd, T Chase, S Fletcher
Today's shout made it 5 shouts in 6 days and with the fantastic weather we have been having its not surprising people have been enjoying the water in the bay. Again the volunteer lifeboat crew were paged during the afternoon and left their jobs to go and assist people who had taken their inflatable toy boats out with strong offshore winds. The first inflatable dinghy had 4 people on board and was reported to be half a mile off the bandstand, after arriving on scene the Lifeboat took the occupants and their dinghy back to the main beach where they were dropped off. As they were leaving the area they noticed another inflatable in a similar predicament, the lifeboat then assisted the 2 occupants and their dinghy back to the shore. All occupants were warned of the dangers of the offshore wind with inflatables. The lifeboat returned to harbour at 16:04 ready to be recovered washed and rehoused. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Tue 1 May 07	Time:13:49	Weather:Warm	Wind Force 4
	Visibility:Good	Crew: B Harrison, G Burchell, S Gill
	The lifeboat crew were paged again today for the 4th time in 5 days to go and assist a number of inflatables off the two beaches in Aberystwyth. A member of the public had noticed that with the strong offshore wind, an inflatable dinghy with one occupant was struggling to get back to shore. The lifeboat was soon launched and on its way to the casualty. when they arrived on scene, the occupant of the boat was pleased to see the lifeboat. The student had been trying to get back to the beach for over 30 minutes with no luck and with tired arms jumped into the sea and attempted to swim back to shore. As the lifeboat was recovering the casualty into the boat, they were informed that two inflatables off south beach were also struggling to make it back to shore, and one had just been capsized by the waves very close to Castle rocks. The lifeboat with its casualty aboard immediately made its way to Castle rocks to check on the two dinghys. With a lull in the wind the person who had been capsized was swimming back to shore and the other one was able to make a little headway to the beach. The lifeboat stood by until both boats were safely ashore. They then returned to main beach to recover the first inflatable. Even though it was a hot day, the casualty was very cold when he and the lifeboat arrived at the station. He was warmed up with some blankets and a cup of tea and then taken home to his halls. Aberystwyth Lifeboat would like to emphasis the dangers of taking inflatables into the sea when the wind is blowing offshore. If in doubt dont go in, or tether your inflatable to the shore. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:29th April 07	Time:19:49	Weather:Good	Wind Force:2-3
Visibility: Good	Crew:B Harrison, P Williams, T Chase
After a busy weekend for the crew, with the Rib Run and a days filming of the lifeboat launching tractor, the crews pagers sounded for the third time this weekend. A local sailor had noticed a group of 3 people cut off by the tide between Aberystwyth and Clarach. The coastguard was informed and the lifeboat was launched. The lifeboat was walked into the beach area and the casualties taken aboard. The 3 students were then dropped on the main beach safe and well. The lifeboat returned to station where it was rehoused and refuelled. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 28 Apr 07	Time:18.11	Weather:V Good	Wind Force 2-3
	Visibility:V Good	Crew: B Harrison, G Burchell, A Jones, E Heckley
	During what was becoming a very busy weekend for a lot of the Lifeboat Crew, the pagers went off again almost 24hrs after the previous nights shout. A sailing dinghy from the University sailing club had capsized, and after righting themselves found that they had problems with the sails. This was noticed by the Coastguard who were responding to a seperate incident and requested that the lifeboat be launched. The lifeboat was soon in the water and alongside the casualty, which was towed back into the harbour. The lifeboat was then asked to go and check on the state of an inflatable off main beach as there were concerns for their ability to get back to shore. The occupants were fine and close enough into shore to make their own way safely back to Main beach. After this the lifeboat returned to station where it was re-housed. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:Fri 27th April 07	Time:19:05	Weather:Hot	Wind Force:2-3
Visibility: Good	Crew:M Webster, G Burchell, T Chase, Matt
Members of the local Coastguard noticed that some people had been playing with an old surfboard in the harbour, and had discarded the board into the river channel and was drifting out of the harbour entrance. After discussing with Milford Haven Coastguard it was decided to launch the lifeboat and recover the board. The crew were paged and the lifeboat launched and collected the surfboard back to the lifeboat station. The decision to recover the board ensured that no one would report it later as a possible missing surfer, and prevented a possible large scale search. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 7th April 07	Time:22.20	Weather:OK	Wind Force 3
	Visibility:OK	Crew: B Harrison, G Bell, I Brandreth, E Heckley
	A member of the public noticed that a 24' Bayliner called 'Blue Marlin' moored in the harbour was taking on water and decided to inform the Coastguard. The Aberystwyth Lifeboat crew were paged and the lifeboat was soon launched and alongside the casualty vessel which was moored up against the Harbour wall. The lifeboat crew assessed the situation and decided it was safer to move the boat from its moorings to the drying grid. An alongside tow was set up and the boat was tied up on the towing grid whilst the Coastguards attempted to identify the owner of the boat and inform them of the problems. Once the casualty boat was tied up, the lifeboat returned to station. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:1st April 2007	Time:9.40	Weather:Good	Wind Force:3-4
Visibility: Good	Crew:B Harrison, G Burchell, S Gill
Usually on a Sunday morning the crews pagers go off at around 11am for a pager test, so this morning when the pagers were set off at 9.40 the first thought was that the test was unusually early, or an Aprils fools. Then realising that someone needed the assistance of Aberystwyth Lifeboat and the page was for real, the crew quickly assembled at the boathouse. The lifeboat was launched within 6 minutes and quickly on its way South to help a 23 foot fishing boat which had suffered a mechanical failure. The owners of the boat were confused about their position and the coordinates they gave did not match up with where they thought they were in relation to the land. With good visibility and quite a distinctive looking boat, the casualty was soon spotted by the lifeboats crew. The casualty was taken under tow, but this proved to be very slow with the lifeboat averaging 5 knots speed. The lifeboat eventually entered Aberystwyth harbour just after 11am and put the boat on its moorings. The lifeboat was then taken back out after a crew change for Sunday morning practice. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 24 Mar 2007	Time:14.54	Weather:Good	Wind Force 0-1
	Visibility:Good	Crew: D lloyd, G Burchell, S Gill
	A small motorboat suffered engine failure on both its main outboard engine and its auxilarly engine, whilst approximately half a mile off the harbour entrance to Aberystwyth. The owner of the vessel put in a radio call to the Coastguard and the Lifeboat crew were soon paged and the boat on its way. Once the Lifeboat was on scene the crew ascertained that everyone was OK and a tow was set up, about 15 minutes later the boat was towed onto its moorings in the harbour. The lifeboat then returned to station to be cleaned, refuelled and ready for its next service. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here..

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:Wednesday 21 March 2007	Time:12.00	Weather:Good	Wind Force:2-3
Visibility: Good	Crew:B Harrison, B Fothergill, E Heckley
The lifeboat was contacted by the coastguard and informed that the person the boat had searched for on Saturday was still missing, and had been missing for a number of days. The police had requested that another shoreline search take place. A crew was assembled and the boat launched just before mid day to carry out a search South of Aberystwyth down to Llanrhystud. The inshore D Class from New Quay was also involved in the search as were a number of Coastguard Shore search parties. Sadly a body was discovered by one of the shore teams. The lifeboat was asked to return to station and collect Police and scenes of crime officers and take to the scene, the body was then returned to Aberystwyth via the lifeboat. The boat returned to station and was cleaned and rehoused by just before 7pm. The crew and all involved at Aberystwyth lifeboat send their thoughts and condolenses to the families and friends of the casualty. Further details are available on the BBC News Site Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 17th Mar 2007	Time:13.20	Weather:Poor	Wind Force 6
	Visibility:OK	Crew: D Lloyd, C Foulston, G Bell
	The Coastguard requested that the Lifeboat Launch to assist in a search for a missing person. After the crew assembled it was decided to carry out a beach launch due to low water in the harbour entrance and quite a rough sea. Although practiced at station, this had never been carried out on a service. The beach launch from South Beach Aberystwyth went well, and the boat was soon making its way South to assist the Coastguard shore search teams. A shoreline search was carried out for nearly two hours, when nothing was found the search was stood down and the boat returned to station, where it was recovered in the safety of the harbour. Please leave comments by clicking here.   Previous shouts here.

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:Wednesday 21 Feb 07	Time:16.04	Weather:Moderate	Wind Force:2-3
Visibility: OK	Crew:N/A
The Aberystwyth University Sailing/Diving club RIB had been swamped by a large wave whilst entering Aberystwyth Harbour and had lost engine power, although they put out their anchor this was not holding. The RIB was being pushed onto the area known as the Trap with a good swell running into some large breaking waves. A member of the public spotted this and called 999, soon after the lifeboat crew were paged by the coastguard. As the first crew assembled at the station, they could see the RIB and people in the water. The boat was so close to the beach and the people had swam ashore that it was decided not to launch the lifeboat. The RIB was washed up onto the beach within a few minutes and the crew spoke to the people who had been in the boat to ascertain everything was ok. Please leave comments byclicking here.

	SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!! SHOUT!!!
	Date:Sat 3 Feb 2007	Time:11.04	Weather:Good	Wind Force 0-1
	Visibility:Good	Crew: B Harrison, G Burchell, G Bell, T Chase
	On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning a number of vessels left Aberystwyth Harbour to enjoy the best of the weather. At just before 11am Milford Haven Coastguard received a radio message from a 21' yacht approximately 300m off the entrance to Aberystwyth Harbour advising that their outboard engine had broken down and with no wind they were unable to sail back into the harbour. The lifeboat crew were paged and soon assembled at the station, the lifeboat was launched and was quickly on scene with the yacht. The boat had dropped their anchor and the two people on board were safe and well. The lifeboat set up a tow to the vessel and bought it back into Aberystwyth Harbour where it was put on its moorings. The lifeboat then returned to station where it was refueled and ready for its next service. Please leave comments by clicking here.

SHOUT!!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!! SHOUT!
Date:Wednesday 10 Jan 07	Time:20.00	Weather:Poor	Wind Force:6
Visibility: OK	Crew: M Webster, T Chase, Nick Thompson
Lifeboat was requested to do a search of the Harbour for a missing person. The mobile coastguard unit were carrying out a search of the shoreline. The weather was very poor. Just as the lifeboat launched the police confirmed that the missing person had been found safe and well so the lifeboat was rehoused ready for service Please leave comments byclicking here.