Injured teenager rescued by UK Coastguard helicopter in Anglesey (with footage)

The UK Coastguard is praising a local coasteering group after they administered first aid and a splint to a teenage boy who injured his knee at Porth Dafarch, near Anglesey Wales.

Yesterday (Thursday 14 July 2016) at around 12.15pm the UK Coastguard received a 999 call from the group leader of a local coasteering group reporting that a teenage boy had sustained an injury to his knee in Porth Dafarch area.

Holyhead Coastguard Rescue Team arrived at the location almost immediately and asked for further assistance from the Trearddur Bay RNLI.  Access to the teenager was difficult so the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon was sent to the area to winch the teenager to safety.  He was then transferred to Bangor Hospital.

 UK Coastguard Duty Controller, Peter Davies said:  ‘When the Holyhead Coastguard Rescue Team arrived on scene they found the group leaders administering first aid and keeping the teenager as comfortable as possible.  The group leaders did a great job looking after the teenager until we were able to get to him and we’d like to thank them for all their assistance.

‘They were able to give us accurate and detailed information which allowed our teams to arrive swiftly to the right location.  This was an unavoidable accident and we hope the teenager makes a swift recovery. We want people to enjoy the coast and always advise people join a coasteering group with a professional and reputable adventure centre, so that all the appropriate risk assessments and safety measures are in place if anything happens.  This group did exactly the right thing calling the Coastguard as soon as the incident happened.’

Grant Mitchell, a former volunteer for Holyhead Coastguard Rescue Team and the group leader from Anglesey Adventures who was leading the coasteering group at the time said:  ‘It’s important for children to participate in outdoor activities, to discover new places, under the right supervision and wearing the appropriate shoes and clothing.  We train for these types situations and carry the right equipment, so we were fully prepared when this unfortunate incident happened.  We’d just like to say a big thank you to the Holyhead Coastguard Rescue Team, the RNLI and the UK Coastguard helicopter who responded quickly to our call and helped airlift the boy to safety.  He’s made a full recovery and his dislocated knee has been put back into place at the Bangor Hospital.  He was released from hospital and has re-joined the group today.’

UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter winchman Chris Bradshaw said:  ‘It was a great team effort from all the locally based rescue organisations and we’re really pleased to hear the boy has made a full recovery.’


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