Tenby became the busiest RNLI lifeboat station in the whole of the UK on Thursday (August 13) with six shouts across one day, on another scorching day for the seaside town!

After an early hours shout at 1am, on Thursday, where both of Tenby’s lifeboats were requested to launch at around 1am, after the coastguard received a call stating that a person may be in difficulty in the water off South Beach, the seaside town’s RNLI crew had five more throughout the day, making Tenby the busiest RNLI station through the whole of the UK!

The second of the day came at 12:50pm for the inshore lifeboat, when the coastguard received a call stating that there were two children missing on the beach at Saundersfoot, having last been seen in the sea.

Luckily, as the crew were about to launch, the RNLI lifeguards at Saundersfoot confirmed they had found the children safe and well and no more assistance was required.

Tenby RNLI lifeboat station
Tenby Lifeboat Station (Observer pic)

The third shout for the inshore lifeboat came at 6.30pm after the coastguard took several 999 calls stating that swimmers appeared to be in difficulty off Castle Beach.

The volunteer crew were quickly on the water and spotted that local Saundersfoot fishing vessel ‘Ebony May’, was in the process of assisting the swimmers. They already had two aboard and were in the process of rescuing the third, having responded to the coastguard call for assistance from any vessels in the area.

The lifeboat went alongside the vessel and checked the casualties over to make sure they needed no medical assistance, before transferring them aboard the lifeboat and bringing them back to shore.

The fourth shout of the day and again, for the inshore lifeboat, came an hour later, at 7.30pm. This time, after a member of the public reported that a kite surfer appeared to be in difficulty off Wiseman’s Bridge.

The volunteer crew made best speed to the area and with nothing immediately visible, they were requested to begin a shoreline search.

After thoroughly searching the area and with nothing found and nobody reported missing, it was put down to a false alarm and the lifeboat was stood down.

As they were returning to station, the crew were diverted to Tenby’s Esplanade after the coastguard received a 999 call stating that a paddleboard looked to be in difficulty.

The volunteer crew were quickly on the water and spotted that local Saundersfoot fishing vessel ‘Ebony May’, was in the process of assisting the swimmers.
The Tenby RNLI crew were quickly on the water and spotted that local Saundersfoot fishing vessel ‘Ebony May’, was in the process of assisting the swimmers. (Tenby RNLI)

Once on scene, the coastguard confirmed the paddleboard was now safely ashore on South Beach, but that they had taken another call about a possible inflatable dinghy in trouble, so the volunteer crew were then tasked to search for that.

As they were approaching South Beach, the crew spotted a dinghy being carried out of the water and after enquiries, it was confirmed that this was the dinghy that had been reported and was no longer in need of assistance, so the lifeboat was stood down to return to station for the final time that day.

A spokesperson for Tenby RNLI stated: “Once again, our thanks go out to the crew of the ‘Ebony May’ for their assistance, without which, it may have been a totally different outcome for the swimmers.

“This is the second incident they have responded to this summer, and we are grateful that they happened to be in the area and for their swift actions on both occasions.”