A potential tragedy on a South Pembrokeshire waterway was averted over the Bank Holiday weekend thanks to the quick-thinking of the crew of a local tug.

The incident was sparked at around 9.30 pm on Saturday following a call from a member of the public who reported that five people were struggling in the River Cleddau, under the Cleddau Bridge at Burton.

The Angle RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched and Dale coastguard team were dispatched to the scene. Milford Port Authority's pilot boat Skomer was also sent to the scene, while the tug Sarah Gray, which was already in the vicinity, took three men (two middle aged and the other in his 20s) on board after they were found clinging to the upturned hull of an inflatable dinghy.

Two young girls, however, were still in the water. As the tug was approaching the girls, a dory, with one helmsman aboard, came on the scene and picked them out of the water.

The three men then requested to be transferred to the dory, which was duly done. By this time, the Angle ILB was on scene, together with Dale coastguard team, an ambulance and the Dyfed Powys Police, who were in attendance on the shore. However, the dory then made off in an erratic manner and sped up stream with the inflatable in tow. In order to establish all were safe and accounted for, the inshore lifeboat was detailed to follow the vessel and make contact.

"The dory was not displaying navigation lights, and was seen by the ILB to be driven from side to side of the river and at an excessive speed," said a spokesperson for HM Coastguard.

"In the fading light, a person was seen by the crew of the yacht Liberty to fall off the dory into the river. He was then picked by the Liberty and returned to the dory."

At Blacktar Point, Llangwm, some four nautical miles upstream, the dory pulled into the shore and was met by police and coastguards.

Continued the coastguard spokesperson: "It was established that all the persons involved were safe and were local. Although some were in survival suits, the five had been initially in the water for approximately 45 minutes and were suffering the effects of the cold, but declined medical attention. "Police made further inquiries and the helmsman of the dory was subsequently taken into custody.

Alcohol appears to have had a significant influence on boat handling skills in this incident and the persons in the water also appeared to have been drinking before falling off the inflatable."

Added the spokesperson: "A potential terrible tragedy was averted by the quick thinking of the crew of the tug Sarah Gray, the yacht Liberty and the efforts of the coastguard and lifeboat teams.

"The message we wish to instill on our boating fraternity is by all means have fun and relax, but please be aware that drink and the water don't mix, and in some places it can be an offence to be in charge of a vessel while over the prescribed limit of alcohol."