48 people rescued as boat runs aground
Forty-eight people are rescued from a passenger boat after it hit a rock on a Welsh island on Saturday afternoon, coastguards confirm.
The Lady Helen sent out a mayday call just before 1pm saying it had run aground at Little Sound, part of Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire coast and was taking on water.
Milford Haven coastguard said it launched a massive rescue operation including local lifeboats, a police boat and an RAF rescue helicopter from north Devon.
But the 48 passengers and crew were rescued safely by other vessels in the area who had been alerted to the sinking ship by the coastguard.
There were no reported injuries to passengers or crew, a Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said.
The spokesman said: “Milford Haven Coastguard contacted other vessels in the area by radio and requested Angle and St Davids RNLI lifeboats to attend and the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor.
“The passengers were evacuated to other vessels and have been transferred to shore safely where they were met by Broadhaven and Dale Coastguard Rescue Teams.”
Diving spot
The vessel had gone to the island from nearby Martin’s Haven – where it will return under tow after being refloated.
The island lies within the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve, a popular spot for wildlife tourism which is a haven for Atlantic grey seals.
Pembrokeshire GP Dr Pauline Smith told the BBC she picked up passengers on her friend’s boat.
They were on their way out to go scuba diving when they heard the mayday call.
She said: “We had quite a few children and elderly ladies on our boat.
“The children were initially a bit scared. They said the boat had been listing.
“But once we gave them a Twix each they were fine.”