While many of us were falling asleep on the sofa with a festive film and box of chocolates, Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs) were on Deganwy Beach in the dark at about 10pm ensuring it was safe for the public.
Fortunately, it was not a live ordinance. But the incident demonstrated our teams of volunteer CROs are ready to respond at any time.
It was just one of dozens of Christmas calls last year to HM Coastguard which every day keeps watch round-the-clock for people in trouble by the coast and at sea.
Here’s a flavour of some real-life festive 999s...
07:56:35
Stockings have barely been opened when Folkestone CRT are sent to a report of concern for four people in the water. The Littlestone RNLI lifeboat joins the search. It’s concluded to be a likely group of early Christmas swimmers with no one found to be in difficulty.
09:54:42
Two hours later, on the other side of the country, Newquay CRT are called out to assist South Western Ambulance Service with a man who has slipped on the rocks and twisted his knee at Watergate Bay, Newquay. The CRT assist him back to his vehicle and he is taken to hospital by his wife.
12:17:37
While some are preparing to put on the sprouts, Lyme Regis and Beer Head CRTs are on the cliffs above Pinhay Bay, Devon, to recover a dog which has gone over the edge. It is reunited with the owners, safe and uninjured. The RNLI’s Lyme Regis lifeboat supports.
16:17:48
It’s a painful Christmas for an unlucky woman who has suffered an ankle injury at Weir Point, Falmouth. As darkness falls, Falmouth CRT and the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat are called out and she is helped to safety and passed into the care of an ambulance crew.
20:18:20
At the other end of the country, an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter takes off from its base at Sumburgh, Shetland, to evacuate an injured worker from an offshore installation about 110 nautical miles away. They are picked up, flown to an ambulance waiting on land, and driven to hospital in Aberdeen.
20:35:29
There’s a car stuck on the sand at Benone beach, near Coleraine in Northern Ireland. Coleraine CRT gets the call to assist the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service respond. Thankfully, the occupants are already safe when the CRT arrives.
22:06:33
Christmas is nearly over but in Wales there’s one last job for Llandudno CRT who are sent to check the report of a suspected torpedo at Deganwy Beach. It’s found, determined to be a stanchion, and reported to local authorities to clear.
HM Coastguard is ready round-the-clock to respond to calls for help. For an emergency at sea or by the coast, call 999 and ask for Coastguard.
Happy Christmas!