A multi-agency operation was launched on Thursday, after a child fell onto rocks during a coasteering session near Tenby, prompting a rapid rescue effort.

Both Tenby RNLI’s inshore and all-weather lifeboats were launched shortly before 4pm on Thursday, May 28 after the Coastguard received a 999 call stating that a child had fallen four metres onto rocks while taking part in an organised coasteering session at Church Doors, near Lydstep.

The volunteer crews made best speed to the area, some 3.8 miles west of Tenby and once on scene, the inshore lifeboat immediately went into the rocks to assess the situation, whilst the all-weather lifeboat stood off.

The crew found the child lying on rocks with his parents, who also been taking part, with him. He was conscious, but complaining of back pain.

A helicopter was immediately requested, but with the tide coming in rapidly and the flight time from Newquay in Cornwall meaning the casualty would likely be submerged before it arrived, the crew needed to get the casualty off the rocks quickly.

A stretcher and several more crew members were brought across from the all-weather lifeboat to the rocks, where they were soon joined by members of Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team.

The child was then immobilised and placed in the stretcher before being taken, along with his parents, off the rocks and to the safety of the larger lifeboat to await the arrival of the helicopter.

The helicopter was overhead a short while later and the Paramedic was lowered to the deck to assess the casualty.

It was decided that it would be more comfortable for the child to stay aboard the lifeboat and for the paramedic to accompany him back to Tenby, where a Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust ambulance had been requested to attend.

With the Ambulance now on scene and the child handed over for his trip to hospital, the coastguard paramedic was taken up to Greenhill School, where the helicopter was waiting to fly back to Newquay.

A spokesperson for Tenby RNLI said: “The child was taking part in a well organised coasteering session and was wearing a wetsuit, buoyancy aid and crucially, a helmet, which likely saved him from more serious injuries.

“The RNLI recommends that when going coasteering, you always try to use a recognised National Coasteering Charter (NCC) provider, as these provide all the necessary safety gear and guidance.”

The rescue capped a busy Whistun holiday week for Tenby RNLI volunteers, with the locality even busier than usual with the mini heatwave upon us.

Sunday (May 24) saw six launches alone for the crew, with rescues ranging from a search for a missing kayaker on the coast, to several people reported to need assistance stuck on the rocks at Manorbier.

The crew were on duty right through to launching at 11pm that night, when the inshore lifeboat was tasked to tend to a 7.1 metre rib with reported engine failure off Old Castle Head, near Manorbier.