A MULTI AGENCY operation took place on Thursday evening to rescue a person who had fallen near St Govans Head.
A lifeboat, coastguard rescue team, rescue helicopter and three ambulance vehicles were all involved in the operation – which saw the casualty airlifted from the scene and two other people who had been climbing transferred by lifeboats.
HM Coastguard St Govans posted on Facebook saying: “The team were paged by Milford Haven Coastguard to reports of a person fallen near to St.Govans Head.
“Members of the team along with HM Coastguard Tenby made their way swiftly to the scene, once on scene a plan was formulated for method of extraction. Due to the location and position, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187 & Tenby Lifeboats RNLI were both requested.
“A Coastguard Rescue Officer acted as a ESO (Edge Safety Officer) to direct them helicopter towards the location of Casualty, the lifeboat provided water safety cover.
“The Casualty was assessed by the helicopter crew paramedic, a helicopter landing site was set up on the cliff top as the helicopter decided to save fuel before onward transfer to Cardiff hospital for further treatment. Once ready the helicopter took off and winched the casualty up into the helicopter.
“Two other people who had been climbing were retrieved from the rocks by the inshore lifeboat and taken onto the main lifeboat for transfer round to a nearby bay to be received by coastguard rescue officers.
“A Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Ambulance & 2 RRV (Rapid Response Vehicle) were also in attendance. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.”
The RNLI said: “Tenby’s all-weather lifeboat was launched at around 7pm on Thursday 10th September, following a call to the Coastguard from climbers reporting one of their party had fallen several metres, suffering injuries at St Govans.
“The volunteer crew made best speed to the scene, 11 miles west of Tenby, along with Tenby and St Govans Coastguard Rescue Teams and Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187.
“As the lifeboat arrived on scene, the helicopter paramedic was already attending to the faller, so the lifeboat crew launched the Y-boat with several crew members aboard to go into the rocks to offer assistance.
“Once the casualty had been winched into the helicopter, the Y-boat took the two remaining members of the climbing party back to the all-weather lifeboat, before dropping them at an accessible bay, where they were met by Coastguards.
“Once the casualty was on his way to hospital, the lifeboat was stood down to return to station, arriving at 9.40pm.”
