Massive Multi-Agency Search Launched After Teenager Goes Missing off Pembrokeshire Coast

A major, large-scale search operation has been carried out off the coast of Pembrokeshire after a 14-year-old boy went missing while swimming at Marloes Sands. Angle RNLI crews spent more than 22 hours at sea over the course of two days, working alongside a vast array of emergency services to locate the teenager.

The incident began at 3:34 pm on Sunday, August 30, when the Coastguard received multiple 999 calls reporting three people in difficulty in the water. While two of the swimmers managed to self-recover, the 14-year-old boy remained unaccounted for, triggering an immediate and urgent response.

The Angle All-Weather Lifeboat was dispatched to the scene, beginning a meticulous search of the coastline. As the operation expanded, a significant coalition of resources joined the effort, including the St David’s and Tenby All-Weather Lifeboats, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Dale, Broad Haven, St David’s, and Llansteffan, the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R924, and the Coastguard Fixed-Wing Aircraft R224.

The search was further bolstered by Dyfed-Powys Police’s marine unit, Milford Haven Port Authority pilot vessels, and a variety of commercial and leisure craft.

Crews worked tirelessly throughout Sunday, completing complex search patterns until they were stood down around midnight. After a brief period of refueling and maintenance in Milford Marina, the exhausted crew returned to service by 2:00 am.

Despite the intensity of the initial search, the operation resumed just six hours later at 8:16 am on Monday. The second day saw the integration of a specialized Coastguard Drone Team, as crews conducted a saturated search spanning from St Ann’s Head to Broad Haven North, including the islands of Skomer and Skokholm.

Following a brief crew change and welfare break on Monday afternoon, the lifeboat returned to the water by 5:00 pm, specifically targeting the shoreline around Marloes Sands during low tide.

However, at 7:30 pm on Monday evening, the search was formally suspended as there was no further information to guide the teams. The lifeboat returned to its berth by 8:00 pm.

In a statement following the conclusion of the search, an Angle RNLI spokesperson expressed their gratitude to all involved in the Wales breaking news event:

“A huge thank you to our crew who have shown immense dedication over the past two days, and a thank you goes to Milford Haven Coastguard for their fantastic coordination and support in what has been a lengthy and tiring incident for our crew.”

The spokesperson added that the organization’s thoughts remain with the boy’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.