ANGLERS LOST IN FOG GUIDED TO SAFETY

Two anglers, who became disorientated in fog on a rising tide, were helped to safety last night by the Llantwit Major Coastguard Rescue Team and two lifeboats.
Swansea Coastguard received a call from the anglers at 5.00 am this morning, requesting assistance because they had become disorientated as fog descended at Monknash Beach near Llantwit Major. The two men, in their early twenties and from Swansea, had arrived at about 10.00 pm for a night’s fishing.
Swansea Coastguard sent the Llantwit Major Coastguard Rescue Team to the beach and requested the Atlantic College and Porthcawl Inshore RNLI lifeboats to launch. The men had head torches with them and the lifeboat crew managed to see them through the fog. Swansea Coastguard connected the coastguard to the two men through a conference call and they were able to confirm their location near Whitmore Stairs. The coastguard rescue team located the two men and guided them off the beach and back to the car park.
Bernie Kemble, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager says:
“Before you set out on angling trip, make sure that you prepare well so that you can have a safe and enjoyable time:
·         Check the tide times – this information is widely available on the web. Be particularly aware of spring tides (we are experiencing them at the moment). A ‘spring tide’ means that high water is higher than usual.
·         Check the weather forecast. Be aware of the potential for fog even following pleasant clear weather.
·         Wear reflective clothing and take a good torch with you.
·         Make sure that you take a means of contact with you (be aware that mobile phone coverage is patchy under cliffs etc).
·         Consider whether you need to wear a lifejacket – for example if you are fishing from rocks near the sea at night.

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