RNLI lifeguards rescued a kitesurfer whose lines got tangled up in rocks about 500m offshore.
The charity’s lifeguards working at Langland Bay, Gower, spotted the man in trouble at rocks known as Crab Island, on the east side of the bay, at about noon on Saturday (18 June).
In windy conditions and an incoming tide, the man’s kitesurfing lines had become snared and he was unable to free himself from the rocks, which become submerged on higher tides.
RNLI senior lifeguard Sophie Phillips and fellow lifeguards Hamish Addey and Kieran Hennah spotted the man in difficulty and Hamish immediately paddled out to the rocks on a rescue board to assist.
After helping free the kitesurfer from his harness and tangled lines, lifeguard Hamish brought him back to the safety of the shoreline on the rescue board.
Rob Steele, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, said: ‘Luckily the man was unharmed and was able to walk away from this incident.
Safety tips and advice on kitesurfing and a range of other water based activities are available at the RNLI’s Respect the Water website at http://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water/activities/Pages/activities.aspx.
RNLI lifeguards in the Swansea area are providing a daily safety service at Langland, Caswell, Port Eynon, Three Cliffs Bay and Aberavon Beach. On 2 July RNLI lifeguards will also return to Swansea Bay. Lifeguards are on duty daily between 10am and 6pm.
The attached is a stock picture of RNLI lifeguards in Swansea (credit RNLI).