A teacher at Rydal Penrhos School helped rescue two kayakers after they got into difficulties near Point Lynas.
Dr Gethin Roberts, a Biology teacher at the school, had been out kayaking with his wife and three other kayakers’ near Point Lynas when the Coast Guard contacted them after receiving a 999 call. After being able to rule out Dr Roberts and his group as the originators of the call, Holyhead Coast Guard asked them to begin searching for the two casualties due to them only being 4km from Point Lynas.
Dr Roberts said, “We paddled against the ebbing current and found the very cold casualties with one partially sunk kayak 3km from where they had fallen into the sea. We took them on board the decks of our rafted kayaks, contacted the Coast Guard and clothed them with spare kit.”
The RAF Sea King helicopter was despatched to pick up the casualties and the kayakers used a smoke flare to guide the helicopter in and show the wind conditions. Moelfre RNLI also arrived at the scene to rescue the casualties from the kayakers and transferred the female casualty, suffering from hypothermia to the helicopter for transportation to Ysbyty Gwynedd.
Kayaking is a hugely popular extracurricular activity at Rydal Penrhos. A weekly training session takes place every Friday, organised by Dr Roberts who is a Level 2 BCU Canoe and Kayak Coach supported by teacher Mr Baxter. Keen kayakers have the opportunity to take part in a week long trip to Slovenia to tackle to rapids of the river Soca. Kayaking is one of the many activities pupils can get involved with during their time at School. The extensive Outdoor Education programme introduces pupils to mountaineering, cycling, skiing, sailing and climbing and from Year 9 pupils can work towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award.
There are also a huge variety of clubs which pupils can get involved with, catering to all interests including chess, art, campaigning, drama clubs, amnesty international and photography.