A YOUNG family had to be rescued when their inflatable dinghy was stuck out at sea.
The volunteer crew of Rhyl’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was launched five times in one afternoon during the busy half-term week, as scores of holidaymakers flocked to Rhyl and surrounding beaches.
The most dangerous incident on Thursday, involved a man and three small children, aged four to nine, who were using an inflatable toy dinghy and ran into trouble shortly after 2pm off Sunny Vale holiday camp, Kinmel Bay.
After being escorted to safety, the family were reunited with relatives on the beach and advised of the need to be vigilant in future. They were not wearing lifeboats when they ran into danger in windy conditions.
A spokesman for Rhyl RNLI said: “The inflatable was a toy one, and was very overloaded, powered by the adult with two oars. They were about 500 metres out from Kinmel Bay when the Rhyl beach lifeguards spotted them, with the adult trying to row ashore against the wind and tide.
“The children were starting to look cold so they were all taken on to the lifeboat, and taken back to the shore where the children’s family were waiting. The adult was unaware of the danger he had put the children in, but was educated by local coastguards on his return to the shore.”
The family have not been named, but the father agreed to have his photo taken by the RNLI when being rescued.
The spokesman added: “Incidents like this highlight just how important it is that people are aware of any dangers at sea and take account of the conditions before they set sail. We would advise anyone thinking of using an inflatable dinghy to be extremely careful.”
On the same day, a four-year old boy was reported missing on Prestatyn beach. He was quickly found to be safe and well, with the RNLI volunteers working in partnership with lifeguards and volunteer coastguards to help deal with the incidents.