A person has been recovered from the sea off the Welsh coast following a dramatic Coastguard response involving helicopters and multiple lifeboats on Bank Holiday Monday.
Two rescue helicopters were spotted circling Barmouth Beach in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, after the alarm was raised about a person getting into trouble in the water at around 5:50 PM.
HM Coastguard confirmed that the person was flown to a hospital in Bangor, but their condition is currently unknown.
A spokesman said: “HM Coastguard coordinated the response to a report of concern for a person in the water at Barmouth beach.”
Two Coastguard helicopters descended on Barmouth Beach on Bank Holiday Monday
Search and rescue teams were seen operating in the area on Monday
“The alarm was raised at about 5:50 PM on 27 May. Two HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopters were sent as well as Coastguard Rescue Teams from Barmouth, Aberdovey, and Aberystwyth. The RNLI’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats from Barmouth were also sent.
A person was recovered from the water and flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, Bangor. The Welsh Ambulance Service and North Wales Police also attended.
Local speculation suggested that the Coastguard was searching for multiple people; however, a spokesman confirmed that there was only one casualty. The condition of the person who was recovered from the sea is unknown.
A spokesman for North Wales Police said: “We are currently assisting HM Coastguard with an incident on Barmouth Beach. We kindly ask people to keep away from the area while emergency services deal with the incident.”
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called today, Monday 27 May, at approximately 6:08 PM, to reports of an emergency at Barmouth beach. We sent one rapid response vehicle, one emergency ambulance, and two air ambulances to the scene.
Barmouth is considered southern Snowdonia’s most popular seaside resort and attracts thousands of visitors during the summer months.
The condition of the person who was recovered from the sea is unknown, the Coastguard added
The incident at Barmouth comes just days after a woman who fell overboard from a pleasure boat off the Isle of Wight was rescued in a major operation after a Coastguard helicopter winched her to safety.
Two search and rescue helicopters and a plane were sent to the scene alongside the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat and one independent lifeboat. A cross-Channel ferry, Commodore Goodwill, also appeared to be assisting with the search.
The woman was safely winched out of the water by a Coastguard helicopter at about 4 PM on Thursday, HM Coastguard said.
