Incident Overview
A child was rescued after falling approximately four metres onto rocks while coasteering along the Pembrokeshire coast. The incident occurred near Church Doors, close to Lydstep, on 28 May shortly before 16:00 BST.
Emergency Response
The coastguard, ambulance service, and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) responded promptly to the emergency call. The boy was participating in an organised coasteering session with his parents at the time of the accident.
Following the rescue by the RNLI, the child was transported to hospital via air ambulance due to complaints of back pain. However, the rapidly rising tide and concerns regarding the helicopter's flight duration necessitated additional measures.
To facilitate the evacuation, a stretcher and extra crew members were deployed from the all-weather lifeboat to the rocky area. The boy and his parents were brought aboard the lifeboat, where a paramedic was then lowered to the deck to conduct a medical assessment of the child.
Subsequently, the boy, his parents, and the paramedic were accompanied to Tenby, where an ambulance awaited their arrival for further medical attention.
Safety Equipment and Recommendations
A spokesman for Tenby RNLI highlighted the importance of safety gear worn by the child during the incident. The boy was equipped with a wetsuit, buoyancy aid, and notably, a helmet, which the spokesman indicated likely prevented more severe injuries.
"The RNLI recommends that when going coasteering, you always try to use a recognised National Coasteering Charter (NCC) provider, as these provide all the necessary safety gear and guidance."
