Flares aid rescue of two people from burning boat
05/05/2022
Two people have been rescued from a burning boat off the Welsh coast after summoning help using flares.
A man and a woman were saved after a fire on their motorboat in the Bristol Channel.
The rescue off the Rhoose coast, in the Vale of Glamorgan, happened one evening at the end of April.
The pair launched their life raft and were rescued by the crew of a Bristol Interceptor, which was taking a pilot to another ship.
RNLI Barry Dock also attended. Its crew included a paramedic who was taken to the interceptor boat to check the two and treated an ankle injury.
The pair were taking their 55-foot boat from Cardiff to Porthcawl when the fire occurred. They fired flares from their liferaft to summon help.
Nigel Parry, press officer for the Barry Dock Lifeboat, says the couple had marine safety equipment, including flares. “Fortunately, due to their good planning, they had a life raft and a grab bag which usually contains flares and maybe a radio.”
A passer-by on the coast saw the distress flares and also called the Coastguard to raise the alarm. The image is from RNLI Barry Dock’s Facebook page.
Barry Dock Lifeboat Team is currently looking for volunteers. To find out more details, email barrydock@rnli.org.uk.
