Six young children have been rescued after getting into ‘serious difficulty’ in the water at a beach in Wales.
Coastguards were deployed to Aberavon Beach, located in Port Talbot, at around 8.30pm on Sunday after reports of multiple children struggling to get back to shore.
Rescue teams described it as a ‘mass casualty’ rescue, and police, several ambulances and local volunteers were dispatched to the scene.
Three children were eventually rescued using a throw line, while the others were saved in the water.
Two of them were taken to hospital with the other four made their own way there.
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A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: ‘HM Coastguard was tasked to co-ordinate the rescue of children in the water at Aberavon Beach yesterday, at around 8.30pm.
‘Port Talbot RNLI Lifeboat, Port Talbot and Porthcawl Coastguard Rescue Teams, Welsh Ambulance Service and South Wales Police were on scene.
‘Port Talbot Coastguard Rescue Team rescued the children from the water and provided first aid until the Ambulance arrived.’
The current condition of the children remains unclear.
A statement from Welsh Ambulance said: ‘Two patients were conveyed to hospital for treatment with a further four patients making their own way to hospital.’
Port Talbot Coastguard said their rescue teams entered the water ‘without hesitation’ after recognising the escalating danger.
This was the team’s third water rescue, meaning nine lives have been saved to date.
A warning has also been issued to people visiting a popular Welsh seaside resort this bank holiday after huge waves knocked people over, sweeping them onto boulders and causing injuries.
Volunteer lifeguards said people need to ‘take extreme caution’ when visiting Rest Bay in Porthcawl over the coming days due to the huge waves and strong currents expected.
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