A look into the stories we'll follow in episode three of our behind-the-scenes TV series, Coastguard

In Wales, the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Caernarfon is sent to help a kite surfer in trouble at sea. As time ticks away, concerns grow for him as rescuers worry about the conditions offshore.   
  
In the Port of Tyne, the Survey and Inspection team head onto a Singaporean bulk carrier which has been in port for 17 days. The vessel is carrying high risk cargo and, if a major fault is found during the inspection, the vessel could be detained. 
 
A 999 call comes in from an individual who has been caught out by the incoming tide, after going for a swim. Alone among hazardous rocks, the Newquay coastguard helicopter is tasked to an intricate and challenging rescue.
  
Meanwhile, the fixed wing aeroplane is on a Counter Pollution-tasked flight over British waters. The team fly over an area with a peculiar sheen, and record information to share back for analysis. The data is quickly sent back to HQ, where the Counter Pollution team get to the bottom of the findings.  
  
Newquay coastguard helicopter crew are once more called into action after receiving a call that a climber is injured along the face of nearby sea cliffs. An awkward and challenging rescue lies ahead with the helicopter crew relying on the expertise of a Coastguard Rescue Team to help.   
  
In Fareham at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, a fishing vessel triggers a distress signal, raising concern for the crew’s welfare. With no time to dwell and being unable to make contact with the vessel, the team organise lifeboats and nearby trawlers to help before it’s too late.
 

This week’s episode of Coastguard opens with the race against time to find a kite surfer in trouble at sea, having been blown offshore.

It's an incident which demonstrates the speed with which teams have to respond. As the 999-call comes in, the caller tells operators that a man has drifted out to sea, but that he can no longer see sight of him. 

Aberdfyfi, Borth and Aberystwyth Coastguard Rescue Teams rush to the scene alongside the launch of the Aberdovey inshore lifeboat, before quickly calling in the helicopter based at Caernarfon. 

The TV series follows the helicopter and its crew as they make way to the scene after it's revealed the kitesurfer was in the water for 45 minutes. 

It is a reminder that open water can be dangerously cold, even when the air temperature is a lot warmer. It is also a reminder to always have a means of calling for help when out at sea. 

The open sea is generally a lot colder than a swimming pool and offers far more risk, but the wide expanse and isolation is a huge draw for many. 

A person suddenly entering the sea can experience cold water shock which can be fatal; this can happen even at temperatures as high as 20C. Swimmers and watersports users should enter the water slowly to allow their body to acclimatise. When entering the water for any length of time it is advisable to wear a wetsuit, to keep your core body warm as long as possible. 

Swimmers should not take inflatables to the beach – they can very easily be blown offshore, and people can quickly find themselves in a similarly scary situation to that shown in this week’s episode. 

HM Coastguard advice is to, where possible, wear a Portable Flotation Device (PFD) – more commonly known as a lifejacket – when engaging in water sports, and to always have a means of calling for help. 

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are another great piece of safety kit to have with you, as they provide a strong signal when activated that helps rescuers locate where you are. Finding someone in water, particularly choppier water, can be very difficult due to the natural swell of waves. 

Anyone planning a trip out on the water should check our safety advice.