Latest news with #JonTarrant
The Guardian
26-01-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
RNLI rescues American students from Welsh island during Storm Éowyn
It turned out to be a dangerous trip to a tidal island in Wales that, thanks to the RNLI, seven American students will never forget. The group had to be rescued by the lifeboat service after the incoming tide cut Worms Head island off from the Gower coast on Saturday morning. The students, who had been spending some time at Swansea University, found themselves stranded on the island as the high winds of Storm Éowyn raged across Wales, leaving hundreds without power. After the RNLI received a report of two people in the water, the charity launched a lifeboat to rescue them. The conditions at sea were so challenging that lifeboat volunteers had to make four trips to the island to bring the five women and two men back to safety in Rhossili. 'This was a challenging rescue,' said Jon Tarrant, the RNLI volunteer crew member who rescued the students along with fellow volunteer Stuart Payne. 'The swell was up to two metres and the rise and fall of the water presented difficulties in picking up the people and also returning them to shore at Rhossili. It was also a rough passage to and from Horton to Worms Head.' The rock causeway that leads to Worms Head is usually accessible two and a half hours either side of low tide, with the times it is open normally on display on the entrance to the causeway. Lawrie Grove, the Lifeboat Operations Manager for the Horton and Port Eynon Station, called on people who take coastal walks to remember to check local tide times and plan their walks accordingly. 'They should never try to swim or wade to shore when cut off by the tide, it is extremely dangerous.' He added that sometimes the Worms Head causeway will close earlier when high winds accelerate the incoming tide and advised people who walk to tidal islands to 'take a means of communication' with them. He added: 'If you find yourself in difficulty or see someone in difficulty on or near the coast, phone 999 and ask for the Coastguard.' In October, the RNLI rescued seven other students who had also become stranded on the island. On that occasion, two of the students suffered bleeding and bruising as they tried to wade back to the shoreline. According to the National Trust, the Worms Head takes its name from the Norse word 'Wurme', meaning dragon or serpent. Vikings are said to have viewed the island as a sleeping dragon, because of the way its shape rises from sea.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Seven stranded students rescued from tidal island
Seven students have been rescued after becoming stranded on a tidal island in stormy conditions. Lifeboat volunteers made four trips to bring the group from Worms Head, off the Gower, to safety in Rhossili on Saturday. The group of American students - made up of five women and two men - had been spending some time at Swansea University and decided to make the trip to the island but were cut off by the incoming tide. Jon Tarrant, one of the volunteer crew, said it was a "challenging rescue", adding: "The swell was up to two metres and the rise and fall of the water presented difficulties in picking up the people and also returning them to shore at Rhossili." Three rescued after being cut off by rising tide Warning after students stranded by high tide The RNLI team said the students were "extremely grateful" and "could not believe that all the crew were unpaid volunteers". Worm's Head is usually accessible on foot for two hours and 30 minutes either side of low tide, but can close earlier due to strong winds accelerating the arrival of high tide. Lawrie Grove, lifeboats operation manager, said its opening times were displayed near to the causeway. "I would remind people when walking on or near the coast to make sure that they check local tide times and plan walks accordingly," he added. "They should never try to swim or wade to shore when cut off by the tide, it is extremely dangerous." It is not the first time students have had to be rescued from Worm's Head, with a group of eight becoming stranded in October.
