The Coastguard was called to St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire this afternoon after three climbers got into difficulty. A major rescue operation was launched to find the trio
A major rescue operation has been launched after three climbers encountered an emergency at a UK beauty spot.
The Coastguard was called into action for the operation to locate the trio, who were scaling the cliffs at St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire today (February 12). The alert was sounded around 4pm with coastguard teams from Fishguard, St. Govans and Tenby all responding alongside HM Coastguard and Irish Coastguard helicopters, a Wales Air Ambulance and an RNLI lifeboat.
A Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard responded to an incident involving three climbers at St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire today, 12 February.
“First alerted at around 4pm, Coastguard rescue teams from Fishguard, St. Govans and Tenby were sent alongside an HM Coastguard helicopter, an Irish Coastguard helicopter, Wales Air Ambulance and an RNLI lifeboat from Angle. Dyfed-Powys Police were also in attendance.”
A lifeboat was recorded as being deployed at 4.08pm this afternoon from the RNLI’s Angle Lifeboat Station, though there are no details confirming whether it was involved in this rescue, reports the Mirror.
St Govan’s Head is renowned for its limestone sea cliffs and spectacular views across the Irish Sea.
It ranks among Pembrokeshire’s most sought-after climbing locations and is also celebrated for St Govan’s Chapel, a tiny 13th-century stone structure nestled into a crack in the cliff face.
There’s a 4.4-mile circular route that leads to the hidden chapel tucked away by the shoreline. It’s a challenging descent down worn stone steps before reaching the water’s edge.
At this point, it remains uncertain whether the climbers were near the cliff face or somewhere else in the vicinity, or how the alert was triggered this afternoon.
The result of the rescue operation is also still unknown. Dyfed-Powys Police and the RNLI have been contacted for further details.
Last August a rock climber was helicoptered to hospital following a fall from a nearby cliff in Pembrokeshire.
The male climber tumbled at Saddle Head at approximately 5.20pm on Thursday, August 7, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed.
The man was winched to the top of the cliff before being moved to an air ambulance and transported to hospital in Cardiff.
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