Multi-vessel search launched for person in water off Prestatyn – turns out to be man safely fishing.

The RNLI volunteers at Rhyl launched the All-weather and inshore lifeboats today (May 13th 2015) after Holyhead Coastguard received a 999 call at approximately 11.50am reporting a person in the water.

The lifeboats joined forces with three windfarm supply vessels who had answered Holyhead Coastguard’s call to search the area around the channel to Mostyn docks.

The All-weather lifeboat crew co-ordinated the search while lifeboats took up station about a quarter of a mile offshore, windfarm vessels were positioned about 200m apart, all on a parallel track search.

The area between Splash Point Rhyl and Barkby beach Prestatyn was searched by all vessels up to about a mile out.

The inshore lifeboat was diverted to a man who was push-netting for shrimps off Prestatyn.

The clothes he was wearing vaguely matched the description from the first informant.

The man was safely fishing, and the search continued for about another 30 minutes and was then terminated after discussions with the coastguard.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said:

“The co-operation between the lifeboats and the windfarm vessels demonstrated the excellent relationship existing off the North Wales windfarms with the support vessels and the RNLI.”

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