Coastguard teams and helicopters were scrambled to St Govans Head after three climbers faced an emergency at the popular Pembrokeshire beauty spot
A rescue operation has been launched after three climbers encountered an emergency in Pembrokeshire.
The Coastguard was deployed in to locate the trio, who were climbing at St Govans Head in Pembrokeshire today. The alert was raised at approximately 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 spokesperson for the Coastguard 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 regarding whether it was involved in this operation, reports the Mirror.
St Govan’s Head is renowned for its limestone sea cliffs and striking vistas across the Irish Sea. It ranks among the most sought-after climbing locations in Pembrokeshire and is also celebrated for St Govan’s Chapel, a diminutive 13th-century stone structure nestled into a crevice in the cliff face.
A 4.4-mile circular route leads to the isolated chapel concealed near the shoreline. The descent involves a challenging climb down worn stone steps before reaching the coast.
At present, it remains unclear whether the climbers were positioned near the cliff face or in another part of the locality, or how the emergency call was initiated this afternoon.
The outcome of the rescue operation also stays unknown.
Last August, a rock climber was transported by air to hospital following a fall from a nearby cliff in Pembrokeshire. The male climber fell at Saddle Head at approximately 5.20pm on Thursday, August 7, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed.
The man was lifted by helicopter to the cliff top before being moved to an air ambulance and transported to hospital in Cardiff.