St Davids all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 3.50pm on Saturday, September 6 to assist a kayak fisherman struggling in offshore winds in the Abereiddy bay area.

The charity’s Tamar class lifeboat was quickly on the water and arrived on scene by 4.20pm. St Davids Coastguard Rescue Team had arrived shortly before the lifeboat and spotted the casualty from the cliff top. The kayaker was approximately one mile offshore in south easterly winds gusting 38mph.

The volunteer crew brought the casualty on board and recovered the inflatable kayak. Alert and well but shaken by the ordeal, the kayaker was taken into the lifeboat wheelhouse to warm up and recover. The daughter boat was launched to take the casualty back to Abereiddy beach and the awaiting coastguard team.

St Davids all-weather lifeboat returned to the station and was prepared and ready for service by 5.30pm.

Will Chant, RNLI Coxswain for St Davids RNLI lifeboat, said: “The kayaker had been safe when close to shore but was caught out by the strong offshore winds once they went beyond the headland. This was a timely response, and excellent multi agency working prevented this from being a significantly harder rescue in the conditions.”