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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Alice Suffield

Cave fall sparks dramatic helicopter rescue in Gower

A dramatic, multi-agency rescue took place in Gower after a person fell in a cave.

Mumbles, Rhossili and Oxwich Coastguard teams were called to Minchin Hole, Pennard at around 12.30pm on March 27 to retrieve the casualty who was trapped in the cave.

The Coastguard teams were able to set up rescue lines to get down the cliff, but were unable to recover the casualty without the use of the Coastguard Helicopter.

Read more: Dramatic air and sea rescue after powerful riptide drags three surfers out to sea at Rhossili

Minchin Hole, Pennard (Mumbles Coastguard)
Rescue lines were run down the cliff. (Rhossili Coastguard)

With the help of the coastguards, paramedics and police, the casualty was lifted to safety and transported to Morriston Hospital by ambulance with a reported broken leg. You can get more Swansea and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.

A Mumbles Coastguard spokesperson said: "Mumbles Coastguard were paged at 12:36 to an injured person trapped in Minchin Hole, Pennard. On arrival South Wales Police Swansea and Neath Port Talbot were in the process of locating the casualty from the top of the cliff.

"Horton and Port Eynon Lifeboat RNLI located the casualty from the water and were able to place crew ashore to begin medical treatment. Mumbles Coastguard, Oxwich Coastguard Rescue Team, Rhossili Coastguards setup rope rescue equipment and sent a technician on ropes down from the cliff top to the casualty who was located inside the cave.

"Once the location and equipment were established, further rope rescue technicians escorted two HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) paramedics from Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to the scene in ropes in harnesses. Working as a team with the paramedics and RNLI, the Coastguard were able to stabilise and assess the patient, then place him on a stretcher to remove him from the cave.

"The decision was made to evacuate the patient via the Coastguard helicopter Rescue 187. The helicopter winched the patient, Coastguards and paramedics aboard and transported them to a helicopter landing site that had been established by the Coastguard teams at the cliff top. Once landed the helicopter and crew transferred the patient to an awaiting ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

"We'd like to thank everyone involved in the rescue as well as the members of the public in the area for their patience and support.
Our crews and colleagues gave up their mothers day plans to perform a long and technical multi agency rescue. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery. Remember if you see someone in difficulty on the coast call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called yesterday (Sunday 27 March) at 12:34hrs to reports of an injured person in the coastal area of Southgate, Swansea. We sent with our Hazardous Area Response Team, one rapid response vehicle and one emergency ambulance to the scene where we worked with colleagues in the police and coastguard. Following assessment and treatment on-site, one person was taken by road to Morriston Hospital."

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