23rd February 2018. A man and his teenage son are lucky to be alive after their kayak overturned off the coast of Anglesey. A huge search and rescue operation including a helicopter, three coastguard teams, the lifeboat and National Coastwatch volunteers was launched after the father and his 13-year-old child were reported missing by the man’s worried wife.

The coastguard received a 999 call at 1.40pm from the woman, who feared for the safety of her family when they did not arrive home on time after going kayaking from Lligwy beach. Moelfre, Cemaes Bay and Penmon Coastguard Rescue Teams, Moelfre Lifeboat and the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter immediately began to look for the pair. Within minutes, the National Coastwatch  station at Point Lynas spotted an overturned kayak floating offshore and the missing pair were soon spotted on a remote island off Lligwy.

The dad and son were very cold and wet but were otherwise safe and well. The duo were winched on board the helicopter and transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor for medical assessment. Mat McInally, HM Coastguard Duty Controller, said: “This incident could so easily have turned into a really tragic one, and the first informant did absolutely the right thing to call the Coastguard when her husband and son did not get back on time. Her quick-thinking action undoubtedly helped save two lives today and we wish the two casualties a speedy recovery”. HM Coastguard also praised the rapid response and assistance of all the rescue services involved including the volunteers of the National Coastwatch station at Point Lynas.