Press Notice No: Duty Notice 1
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Posted 19:50 GMT

At 4.20 pm today Swansea Coastguard received a call that a 20 year old Chinese man on a day trip from London had been seen heading out to Worms Head earlier in the afternoon and had not been seen since lunchtime. A description was given of what he was wearing.

Rhossili Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to the area to begin a search and Horton inshore lifeboat was asked to launch. A rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was also scrambled.

Areas such as Llangennith beach were searched and the inshore lifeboat searched around the Causeway. Buses were searched as they came from the Head as well as areas around the Knave. The seas locally have been quite rough today with winds veering southwesterly force 5 to 7 and the Coastguards concern was that he had been swept into the sea.

Consideration was given to searching the south side of the Causeway given the man was not local and could have been in danger of being cut off by the tide. It was then decided that Coastguard Rescue Team members would be transferred to the Head to carry out a more detailed search.

Six Team Members began to prepare to be transferred to Worms Head to carry out a more detailed and finger tip search looking for clothing or any other material which may have given a clue as to the mans whereabouts.

Fortunately at around 17.45 this evening the Police confirmed they had located the man ashore and the search was stood down.

Dai Jones, Watch Manager at Swansea Coastguard said

We are delighted that the man has been located safe and well and all rescue units have returned to base after what was a considerably detailed 5 hour search.

National Coastguard who now operate from the old Victorian Coastguard lookout hut also assisted us this afternoon for which we are very grateful.
For weekend visitors they can provide all the information on tide times, when to go across, what the weather is going to be like, what you need to prepare for your journey and of course, if they see anyone in trouble they will inform the Coastguard.
Worms Head is about a mile long and a couple of hundred yards across at its widest point. One of the many people who have been stranded by the tide, was the poet Dylan Thomas, he was trapped here as a boy and later wrote of his terror at being cut off with nothing but a bag of sandwiches and a good book to keep him company.

We have very many visitors at this time of the year to Worms Head which can be spectacular at this time of year. The walk out to the Head however can be a race against the tide, it is vital that you check the tide times before setting out on your walk, and make sure that you keep them in mind, dont get caught out. If you do, then dont try to swim back, wait for help to come to you.




Posted By: Mark Clark

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401