Child airlift requested after four-metre fall near Lydstep

A CHILD was rescued from rocks near Lydstep after falling around four metres during an organised coasteering session.

Both Tenby lifeboats were launched shortly before 4:00pm on Thursday (May 28) after the Coastguard received a 999 call reporting that the child had fallen onto rocks at Church Doors.

The volunteer crews made best speed to the scene, around 3.8 miles west of Tenby. Once there, the inshore lifeboat went in close to the rocks while the all-weather lifeboat stood off.

The child was found lying on the rocks with his parents, who had also been taking part in the session. He was conscious but complaining of back pain.

A rescue helicopter was requested, but with the tide coming in quickly and the aircraft travelling from Newquay in Cornwall, crews feared the child could be submerged before it arrived.

A stretcher and additional crew members were transferred from the all-weather lifeboat to the rocks, where they were joined by Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team.

The child was immobilised, placed on the stretcher, and taken with his parents to the safety of the larger lifeboat to await the helicopter.

The Coastguard helicopter arrived a short time later and lowered a paramedic onto the lifeboat to assess him. It was then decided the child would be more comfortable remaining aboard the lifeboat, with the paramedic accompanying him back to Tenby.

A Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust ambulance was waiting at Tenby, and the child was handed over for onward treatment.

The Coastguard paramedic was then taken to Greenhill School, where the helicopter was waiting to return to Newquay.

A Tenby RNLI spokesperson said: “The child was taking part in a well-organised coasteering session and was wearing a wetsuit, buoyancy aid and, crucially, a helmet, which likely saved him from more serious injuries.

“The RNLI recommends that when going coasteering, you always try to use a recognised National Coasteering Charter provider, as these provide all the necessary safety gear and guidance.”

Photo caption:

Multi-agency rescue: Tenby lifeboat crews, Coastguard teams and the Coastguard helicopter were involved in the rescue near Lydstep.

11-year-old rescued from burning container at Trimsaran RFC

A 13-YEAR-OLD boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and arson after a fire at a Carmarthenshire rugby club left an 11-year-old boy seriously injured.

The blaze happened at Trimsaran RFC on Saturday afternoon, when a storage container used to keep equipment at the club’s ground was allegedly set alight deliberately.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the younger boy became trapped inside the burning container and had to be rescued by club members.

He was taken to Morriston Hospital with serious injuries, where he remains in a stable condition.

Police have confirmed that a 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and arson.

The investigation is ongoing.

New research suggests most children in Wales are still falling short of five-a-day

TESCO is expanding its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme across Wales after new research found that most children are not eating their recommended five portions a day.

The supermarket said only four out of 37 children in Wales, around 10.8%, eat their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on a typical school day.

The research also found that almost a third of Welsh parents said their child refuses fruit and vegetables altogether.

Tesco said it will double the number of schools supported by the programme from September, with an ambition to double it again the following year.

The scheme currently provides funding to more than 500 schools across the UK with higher-than-average free school meal eligibility, allowing them to provide pupils with fruit and vegetables during the school day.

Since launching in 2024, the programme has already reached more than 188,000 children across the UK, with pupils consuming more than 15 million portions of fruit and vegetables in its first year.

This year’s expansion is expected to support more than 388,000 children across the UK.

Tesco said the programme is designed to help children try a wider range of fruit and vegetables, build confidence with healthy food, and encourage better eating habits.

The company said pupils taking part have already sampled more than 100 different varieties of fruit and vegetables.

The research also suggested that choice and presentation can make a difference. More than three quarters of Welsh parents said their child is more likely to eat fruit and vegetables when they can choose them themselves, while many said making food fun or visually creative encouraged children to try more.

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “We’ve set out an ambition to help one million children get free fruit and veg through our school and community programmes, supporting the development of healthy habits.

“Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has already made, so we’re delighted to be able to double the number of schools receiving support from September.”

Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “A significant number of children in the UK are growing up with diets that don’t support their health.

“Early food experiences matter, as they can help to shape children’s confidence, habits and long-term health outcomes.

“By helping children enjoy and regularly eat fruit and vegetables from a young age, programmes like Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools can help to make a lasting difference to diet and health now and in the future.”

Tesco is also inviting children to create fruit and vegetable-packed recipes as part of its Giant Fruit and Veg Challenge, with the winning dish to be served in more than 1,500 schools.

The supermarket has set a target of helping one million school children across the UK access free fruit and vegetables through its school and community programmes by July 2029.