News

Pensioner feared lost at sea: Yacht discovered 50 miles off Pembrokeshire coast

Published

3 years ago

July 8, 2023

A PENSIONER is believed to be missing at sea after his unmanned yacht was located approximately 50 miles off the coast of Wales. Duncan Lougee, aged 70, had embarked on a solo voyage from Plymouth aboard his yacht named The Minke, with the intention of sailing to Ireland.

Mr. Lougee was en route to Baltimore and was expected to arrive on June 22, passing through the Isles of Scily as part of the Jester Challenge. However, no contact has been established with Mr. Lougee since his departure on June 18.

An Irish fishing vessel spotted the yacht on Thursday, June 29, prompting the Angle all-weather lifeboat to be dispatched by the Milford Haven Coastguard for a multi-agency search and rescue operation covering a round trip of 110 miles.

As the lifeboat reached the Minke, which was situated 50 miles west of St Anne’s Head in Pembrokeshire, an Irish coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, arrived at the scene.

A winchman descended onto the yacht, which had been overdue for six days, and confirmed that there was no one aboard.

Upon the arrival of the lifeboat, two crew members boarded the yacht to search for any information that could indicate the last known position of the missing sailor.

A spokesperson for Angle Lifeboat RNLI told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “At this point, R117 from Ireland departed and was replaced by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R924 from Newquay, Cornwall.

“Due to the nature of the incident and the expansive search area, a coastguard search plane, Rescue 51, had also been deployed and arrived at the scene, closely followed by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R187 from St Athan. With our crew members now on board, new information was discovered, indicating the last recorded position of the occupant.

“As the lifeboat was out of VHF range, this information was relayed to Rescue 51 for communication to Falmouth Coastguard. Following their findings, all search assets were stood down as the new search area had significantly shifted south.'”

The Angle lifeboat crew then towed the yacht southward and met with Padstow lifeboat crews, who subsequently towed the vessel back to Padstow harbour.

Mr. Lougee, a resident of Colchester, Essex, remains a missing person, and Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that the search operation has been called off.

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “Yacht Minke has been brought ashore and is currently docked in Padstow Harbour. We continue to collaborate with partners, including The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and The Coroner’s Office, regarding this matter. While Mr. Lougee remains officially missing, responsibility for searches in open waters lies with the Coastguard. However, since the yacht Minke has been missing since it departed from Plymouth on Sunday, June 18, and initial inquiries indicate no recent entries in the ship’s log for at least nine days, we have decided to end the search.”

A spokesperson from HM Coastguard added: “Extensive searches were conducted and coordinated by HM Coastguard, leading to the discovery of the yacht. The search was terminated once it became evident that the survivability period had elapsed.”

DI Massey further commented: “We will continue to review this matter, and any new information that emerges will be duly assessed. We have informed the family about these initial updates, and our thoughts are with them at this time. The family of Duncan Lougee has requested privacy.”

Community

Concern grows after child hospitalised following Tenby sea swim

Published

8 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PARENT SAYS BOY BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL AFTER SWIMMING DURING FAMILY VISIT

CONCERN is growing in Pembrokeshire after a parent claimed their child was admitted to hospital after swimming in the sea at Tenby.

The post, shared in a local Tenby Facebook group, said the family had visited the resort between Monday and Thursday, with the boy swimming in the sea on Tuesday (May 6).

His parent wrote: “My son swam in the sea on the 6th and the next morning came down with terrible sickness and diarrhoea — he’s been very unwell since and has tonight been admitted to hospital.”

They added: “It’s terrible we can’t swim in our seas and rivers safely anymore. Please be aware.”

The post prompted hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments, with many people expressing sympathy for the family and others raising wider concerns about sewage pollution and water quality around the Pembrokeshire coast.

One commenter said: “This is a national disgrace, please put in a written complaint to Dŵr Cymru and Natural Resources Wales.”

Another asked: “Why were there no signs put up on the beaches to warn people it was unsafe to swim in?”

Others claimed they or family members had suffered illness after swimming at locations including Tenby, Amroth, Newgale and Coppet Hall.

One person wrote: “I got sepsis from a cut in Newgale surfing. Took six weeks in hospital and seven months recovery and still not right to get over it.”

Another said: “Please check with your son’s doctors regarding E.coli and a condition called HUS, which can develop from E.coli. My daughter swam at Amroth in 2022 after a sewage incident in the area and became seriously ill.”

No medical evidence has been published linking the latest reported illness directly to seawater exposure, and there is currently no official confirmation that conditions at Tenby caused the child’s illness.

However, the post has reignited anger over sewage discharges, pollution alerts and the information available to visitors and local people before entering the water.

Lydstep warning

The concern follows a recent warning at Lydstep Haven after Natural Resources Wales informed Pembrokeshire County Council of an “abnormal situation” which could temporarily affect bathing water quality.

Pembrokeshire County Council said officers from its Pollution Control Team had placed warning notices at various locations around the beach, temporarily advising against bathing while the matter was investigated.

Some residents questioned whether warnings were clear enough, particularly during busy holiday periods.

One commenter wrote: “Why aren’t there any warnings to holiday makers and visitors to our local area? It’s not fair that they find out information after someone becomes ill.”

Another said: “There should be notices and announcements on the beaches if there is an outage.”

Others pointed out that Surfers Against Sewage’s water quality app was not showing an active alert for Tenby itself, and suggested some online comments may have confused the current Lydstep warning with previous pollution notices affecting beaches in the Tenby area.

Protest at Broad Haven

The issue comes less than a week before campaigners stage a Surfers Against Sewage paddle-out protest at Broad Haven.

The protest is due to take place on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30pm, as part of a UK-wide day of action calling for an end to sewage pollution in rivers and seas.

Surfers Against Sewage says communities across the UK will gather on beaches, riverbanks and in the water to demand stronger action on sewage pollution.

The campaign group said: “We are sick of it. Sick of the lies, sick of the greed and sick of a system that’s rigged against us.”

A large banner has already been placed on Broad Haven seafront encouraging people to attend the protest.

Tourism concerns

The row has also raised concerns about the potential impact on Pembrokeshire’s tourism industry, with Tenby, Broad Haven, Newgale and other seaside communities heavily dependent on visitors during the spring and summer months.

One commenter wrote: “Not very good for a holiday destination is it.”

Another said: “Tourism will be massively affected by incidents like this, and people’s health and lives are being put at risk.”

Others called for stronger action from Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.

The Herald has approached Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water for comment.

Community

Milford Haven remembers those lost at sea

Published

9 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

National Fishing Remembrance Day marked by Port

MILFORD HAVEN came together on Sunday (May 10) to remember those who have lost their lives at sea.

The Port of Milford Haven joined the Fishermen’s Mission, Stella Maris – Apostleship of the Sea and members of the local community for a National Fishing Remembrance Day service at St Katherine’s and St Peter’s Church.

The service was followed by a gathering at the Fisherman’s Memorial on The Rath, where those who never returned home from the sea were remembered.

Canon Chancellor John Cecil and Reverend Paul Osunyikanmi led what was described as a moving service of remembrance.

The Port of Milford Haven said it was honoured to take part in the event, paying tribute to fishing families and the wider maritime community.

The annual day of remembrance holds particular significance in Milford Haven, a town with deep fishing and seafaring roots.

Local Government

Jonathan Grimes becomes 647th Mayor of Pembroke

Published

10 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

JONATHAN GRIMES has said he is “incredibly proud and deeply honoured” after becoming the 647th Mayor of Pembroke.

Cllr Grimes, county councillor for Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, thanked those who had placed their trust and confidence in him.

He said: “With the support, commitment and dedication of Pembroke Town Council and our wonderful community, I am confident we can meet every challenge together, celebrate our successes, and continue building a brighter and more inclusive future for Pembroke.

“It is a true privilege to serve as Mayor, and I look forward to working alongside the people of Pembroke in the months ahead.”

Cllr Grimes said he was also looking forward to attending this afternoon’s service at St Mary’s Church in Pembroke for the Blessing of the Bells.

He added that he hoped to meet as many people as possible as the town celebrates the return of the historic bells.