News
Pensioner feared lost at sea: Yacht discovered 50 miles off Pembrokeshire coast
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.”
Crime
Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen
POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.
The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.
Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.
A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.
“Quote reference: 24*355571”
Community
Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine
FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.
The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.
This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.
Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”
The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.
This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
News
Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations
SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).
The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.
Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.
Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.
“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”
The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?
If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.
A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.
West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.
Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.
The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.
The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.
“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.
“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”
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