A MISSING paddleboarder sparked a major search operation on the River Wye involving a helicopter, lifeboat and Coastguard crews and police.
A Severn Area Rescue Association spokesperson said last Wednesday: “The SARA Beachley lifeboat crew were called out yesterday evening shortly before 8pm, to reports of an overdue paddleboarder, headed down the Wye to Chepstow, starting from Monmouth.
“Contact had been lost with the paddleboarder after he had reported that he couldn’t exit the river and the Coastguard had been called.
“As it was almost the bottom of tide, SARA Lifeboat 3 was launched and checked a series of search areas, with the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 187 also searching, along with Gwent Police and HM Coastguard Chepstow.
“The paddleboarder, whose phone had gone flat, eventually made it back up the Wye to Tintern to be reunited with his family around 11pm, just as SARA 3 was approaching that area.
“So it was a happy outcome, after some anxious hours for his family and others!”
The HM Coastguard Chepstow posted: “Working with Gwent Police, Severn Area Rescue Association - Beachley Lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187, multiple search areas were completed with the paddleboarder being located just after 11pm by a member of the public.
“Our thanks also go to the staff and customers of Panevino Italian Restaurant and The Boat Inn, Chepstow for their patience and understanding while we were working within the area.”
The paddleboarder was reportedly found on a road near Tintern having scrambled ashore.
The SARA spokesperson added: “SARA has some keen paddleboarders in our crew, and members who kayak on the tidal Wye, but it is a serious stretch of river and deserves respect.
Our partners at #BeAdventureSmart have a page of tips and good advice for safe paddleboarding, see www.adventuresmart.uk/paddle-boarding.
“#EnjoyWaterSafely and remember: Phone 999 and ask for the Coastguard for emergencies on the coast or tidal rivers.”
The Coastguard sent a helicopter from St Athan and a rescue team from its Chepstow base to help in the search.
Paddleboarding enjoyed a surge of popularity during lockdown, with many people launching out on the Wye in the recent hot weather.
But the risks were highlighted last year when four paddleboarders, one who had completed a 100-mile marathon paddleboard down the Wye the week before, died in a tragic accident on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest.
A woman paddleboarder also died earlier this month after an incident on the River Conwy in North Wales.