Drunk wedding guest sparks sea rescue off Aberavon beach
A DRUNKEN wedding party reveller is lucky to be alive after a major rescue operation saved him from the sea off Aberavon beach.
The alarm was raised by friends of the man as he walked into the sea, during the early hours of Saturday.
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At the time he was described as being in "a highly intoxicated state" after attending earlier wedding celebrations. It was around 12.55am when the call first came in, sparking Port Talbot Lifeboat crew to mount a major search.
Lifeboat press officer Mel Cooper said: "While the lifeboat searched the sea, other crew members, together with the local coastguard and police, searched along the beach, using para flares and searchlights.
"Within 10 to 12 minutes the person was spotted waving his arms and struggling in the water about 100 yards off the beach.
"He was pulled into the lifeboat and first aid was administered with oxygen, by crew member Rebecca Owen, who is also a trained ambulance paramedic.
"She was assisted by the other crew members, Leon Murphy, Corrine Bell and John Perring."
Mr Cooper said the casualty was immediately brought back to shore, where he was wrapped in blankets and placed on a stretcher.
He added that the man was lucky the conditions were so calm, otherwise there could have been a tragic end to the wedding celebration.
"He was then conveyed back to the lifeboat station where an ambulance was in attendance," said Mr Cooper.
"After being thoroughly checked over by the paramedics, he was found to be OK apart from being very cold and wet. No hospital treatment was needed.
"Luckily for the person involved, he was found quickly by the lifeboat and there was a calm sea and very little wind, otherwise the outcome could have been very different."
elizabeth.perkins@swwmedia.co.uk
13 Comments
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by Interesting, Port Talbot
Monday, July 26 2010, 10:28PM
“Well said Witness.
Its about time the correct facts are passed to the paper. The P R guy just likes to see his own name in the Post.
Well done Coastguard, you should get the recognision you deserve. Instead of others making out its all down to them.”
by Witness, Sandfields
Monday, July 26 2010, 10:00PM
“Once again the RNLI have taken all the credit from a joint operation with the Coastguard!! Who paged the lifeboat? Who coordinated the search?
Once again the good work of the local Coastguard on the rescue has been ignored as they are a government body and cannot talk to the press! I witnessed the rescue from the prom and it was blue overalls I seen carrying the stretcher, searching and firing the flare, NOT orange wetsuits!!!”
by The Oracle.. extra, extra read all about it, Sketty
Monday, July 26 2010, 9:37PM
“Please do not condone this idiots irresponsible actions. Firstly he has wasted tax payers money. An Ambulance has been called and hospital treatment received.
Secondly and more importantly the RNLI responded to this moron who sounds as though he had placed his own life in grave danger. Whilst the RNLI is funded by charity and crewed by volunteers, they are just that, volunteers and very heroic ones at that. RNLI crews are ordinary working people with families. They do an extremely hazardous job quite litterally putting their lives at risk on every call in spite of their capabilities and professionalism. Perhaps this readership should stop and think of this before dismissing actions as a drunken jaunt!”
by Syphon the Python, Swansea
Monday, July 26 2010, 9:11PM
“Hope he didn't Urinate into the Swansea Bay area, I wouldn't like it if he caused a Tsunami to form!”
by Sue, Port Talbot
Monday, July 26 2010, 8:16PM
“Sorry to burst you bubbles guys, but the lifeboats are manned by mainly vounteers and its a charity and not goverment funded. So dont worry about you taxes its the charitable people who pay to save lives.”
by Sue, Port Talbot
Monday, July 26 2010, 8:11PM
“Sorry to burst your bubbles here guys, but the lifeboats are mainly manned by volunteers and its not paid for by the tax payer the RNLI is a charity and not government funded.”
by rich, Swansea
Monday, July 26 2010, 7:02PM
“Jo, do you think anyone who gets injured playing sport should pay for their own treatment? Totally self inflicted. How about someone who does their back in whilst gardening? Totally self inflicted. How about someone who has lost control of their vehicle and hurt themselves? totally self inflicted.”
by Huw, ammanford
Monday, July 26 2010, 6:17PM
“Let him or her who has never been drunk cast the first stone.....so we can recognise the boring old fart.”
by terri, swansea
Monday, July 26 2010, 3:48PM
“totally agree with Jo carmarthenshire,, apart from the wasted money, what about the danger to the people who were out searching for this idiot!!!”
by Andrew, central Bulgaria ... V. Turnovo
Monday, July 26 2010, 3:19PM
“How can Jo from Carmathenshire say that its a waste of money , have you ever been so drunk or are you mr. or mrs perfect , Well congrats to a great service by the local lifeguards , .”