Charity
Busy 24 hours for St Davids volunteer RNLI crew
IT WAS an exceptionally busy Thursday for the RNLI in the lead up to the Bank Holiday Weekend. At 11.27am on Thursday 24 August, inshore lifeboat Marian and Alan Clayton was requested to assist an injured person at the Blue Lagoon, Abereiddi.
The lifeboat arrived on scene and was able to manoeuvre straight into the lagoon to provide oxygen support to the casualty, working alongside the St Davids coastguard volunteers – who already had the situation under control.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and an ambulance arrived shortly after and, once the paramedic was satisfied with the situation, the casualty was evacuated by the land based teams to the awaiting ambulance. The inshore lifeboat was rehoused at 1.07pm.
At 6.30pm, St Davids launched on a planned training exercise to continue volunteer crew training.
At 4.11am on Friday 25 August, St Davids RNLI responded to a PAN PAN distress call after a yacht got into difficulties two miles south west of South Bishop Lighthouse.
All-weather lifeboat Norah Wortley launched into the darkness and was quickly on scene in calm conditions. Upon assessment of the situation, Coxswain Will Chant decided a tow to Milford Haven was the best course of action to enable repair of the yacht’s engine.
Once the charity’s lifeboat was south of Skomer island, Milford Haven coastguard requested Angle RNLI take over the tow to ensure good operational cover was maintained along the north Pembrokeshire coast. St Davids lifeboat returned to station and rehoused at 7.32am.
Will Chant, RNLI Coxswain for St Davids RNLI lifeboat, said: ‘Both lifeboat launches proved firsts for members of our volunteer crew, with recently qualified Chris Edwards as deputy mechanic on the South Bishop light house rescue and crew member Sarah Kirby’s first shout on the inshore lifeboat.
‘All-weather lifeboat crew member Dr Roger Scofield assisted us shore side at Abereiddi, travelling to the scene by car. It was also the first time I’ve worked alongside my wife Lottie who attended the Abereiddi incident in her capacity as St Davids Fire and Rescue officer. Although a busy day, we train to ensure we can continue saving lives at sea, 24 hours a day.’
Charity
Therapy dogs delight Bryan Adams and crew at Utilita Arena
HAVERFORDWEST-based charity, Cariad Pet Therapy, received VIP treatment during a special visit to Bryan Adams and his crew at the Utilita Arena on the May 19. The visit, which took place in the late afternoon, featured four therapy dogs along with dedicated volunteers from the organisation.
Bryan Adams, currently on a major tour, took a personal interest in the visit, sharing videos of his own dogs with the volunteers. He spent quality time with the therapy dogs – Rylie, a Border Collie; Ruby, a Fox Red Labrador; Max, a Golden Retriever; and Kali, a Black Labrador. Adams, known for his love of dogs, clearly enjoyed the interaction.
The volunteers from Cariad Pet Therapy were not only given the star treatment but were also provided with tickets to the evening’s concert. Meanwhile, the therapy dogs returned home after their heartwarming visit.
This event follows similar visits by the charity to concerts by Pete Tong and Jason Derulo in recent months, with more events planned for the future. Additionally, the volunteers attended the National Lottery Big Bash as special guests last Christmas, enjoying front-row seats for a performance headlined by Take That.
For more information on Cariad Pet Therapy and their work, visit www.cariadpettherapy.co.uk.
Charity
Charitable donations fund ambulatory heart monitors for Withybush Hospital
THANKS to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities – the official charity of Hywel Dda Health Board – has funded 10 ambulatory heart monitors worth over £13,000 for Withybush Hospital’s Cardio-Respiratory Department.
The monitors are compact devices which are used to assess a patient’s heart rate and rhythm for a sustained amount of time.
The state-of-the-art monitors will help the Cardio-Respiratory Department provide the best possible service, with accurate, efficient and timely arrhythmia recognition provided on site or at home.
Rhys Bowen, Advanced Cardiac Physiologist, said: “We are so grateful that charitable donations from the local community have enabled us to buy the new monitors.
“The monitors are more adaptable to each patient’s presenting symptoms which will enhance the quality of the data gathered.
“They are more patient-friendly and easier to wear for the duration of the test, so there will be less need for repeat monitoring. They will also support quicker in-patient discharge due to an increase in the number of available monitors and the fact they can be worn by the patient at home and provide remote monitoring.”
Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”
For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, visit here.
Charity
St Davids RNLI teams up with Solva Rowing for joint exercise
THE RNLI St Davids lifeboat crew joined forces with Solva Rowing and Watersports Club for a unique joint training exercise on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The session focused on practising medical evacuation and tow techniques using a Celtic longboat, providing an opportunity for both lifeboat and rowing crews to enhance their rescue skills.
The training aimed to prepare volunteers for a variety of maritime emergency scenarios, ensuring that they are well-equipped to handle situations that may arise at sea. The use of the traditional Celtic longboat added an extra layer of challenge and realism to the exercise, simulating conditions that could occur during actual rescue operations.
The collaboration between the two groups was not only a chance for skill enhancement but also a way to strengthen community ties and mutual understanding among the local sea-going organisations. The exercise was documented in photographs by Lyn Jenkins and Cathy Morton, capturing the intense yet constructive nature of the training.
This proactive approach by both the RNLI and Solva Rowing and Watersports Club underscores the commitment of local maritime groups to safety and preparedness, ultimately aiming to ensure that their volunteers are ready and able to save lives at sea effectively.
-
News20 hours ago
Two men arrested following death of Milford Haven woman
-
Entertainment6 days ago
Dolly Parton to explore Welsh roots near Tenby in upcoming TV special
-
Crime6 days ago
Milford woman ’caused significant life-changing injuries to motorcyclist’
-
News5 days ago
Life literally ‘buzzing’ for west Wales EuroMillion winners
-
Crime5 days ago
Four young Pembrokeshire men arrested on suspicion of rape
-
Crime2 days ago
Teenagers fled from Pembroke RFC after setting spectators stand on fire
-
Crime4 days ago
Arrest made following report of sexual assault in Haverfordwest
-
News7 days ago
Sian Batchelor: Police issue new appeal for information