A pick-up truck found itself in a perilous situation when it got swallowed by the incoming tide at Traeth Bychan, a popular beach in Anglesey. The incident unfolded as the vehicle reportedly became stuck and eventually submerged, prompting the owner to wade into the water in an attempt to recover it. Concerned for the safety of the owner, rescue teams, including local RNLI and Coastguard teams, were alerted around 10 am on Saturday morning. Fortunately, it was confirmed that no one else was inside the stranded vehicle, and the owner managed to make it ashore.
Despite the vehicle being deemed “beyond salvage” by RNLI Moelfre, a retrieval plan was devised by the Moelfre Coastguard team. A tractor was brought to the scene to help with the recovery. However, during the retrieval attempt, the tow rope snapped, leaving the vehicle fully submerged. The lifeboat crew stood by at sea to provide safety cover while the tractor made another attempt to haul out the pick-up. By this time, a gathering crowd had formed on the beach.
Following an unsuccessful first attempt, RNLI crew attached a marker buoy to the vehicle’s roof bars to prevent it from drifting away with the tide. A waiting game ensued as the owner planned a second retrieval operation once the water receded. Eventually, with the help of two tractors, the Moelfre Coastguard successfully recovered the vehicle from the beach. The entire incident unfolded at Traeth Bychan, which has previously been the site of other rescues, including a successful retrieval of a walker who fell from the coastal path.
Fortunately, the owner of the pick-up was unharmed, although cold and wet. The RNLI crew remained on the scene to ensure the safety of those present and helped the owner recover his boat and trailer back home. The community expressed sympathy for the owner’s loss of the vehicle but hoped for a safe recovery when the tide receded later that day. The successful recovery operation was a joint effort involving the RNLI, Coastguard teams, and the local community, highlighting the importance of swift and coordinated rescue efforts in emergency situations.