Sea fishing warning after tragedy

Four dead in Welsh sea accidents

Experts have warned about the dangers of sea fishing from the shore after the deaths of two brothers angling on rocks off the coast of Ceredigion.

The bodies of Terry Dixon, 56, and Tony Dixon, 48, were found on Wednesday after they went fishing near Mwnt.

Cardigan mayor Wyn Evans said many people did not realise tidal surges could send water high up on to rocks.

Mwnt, a remote hamlet about 10 miles from Cardigan, is very popular with tourists and anglers.

The permanent population is very small, but swells during the holiday period. There are currently about 20 caravans and a few tents in a field overlooking the beach, which is just as popular for its breathtaking views and wildlife.

You have to be very aware of how close you are to the water and what your escape route is Cardigan mayor Wyn Evans

Local people say mackerel come in quite close to the shore, which helps makes it popular with fishermen.

Mr Evans, who used to fish in the area, said the rocks could be very dangerous if anglers were too close to the sea.

Coastguard

He said: "You have to be very aware of how close you are to the water and what your escape route is.

"We'd be hauling pots very close to the rocks and you'd see people very low down, far too close to the edge of the sea."

John Davies, lifeboat operations manager at Cardigan lifeboat sands in Poppit, Pembrokeshire, said one of the lifeboats was just returning to the station when they received the request to go to Mwnt.

The foreshore at Mwnt is popular with fishermen

He said: "We were called out at 6.45pm to investigate a report that two bodies were in the water off Mwnt.

"We launched our two boats and one eventually returned with two bodies while one stayed to carry out a further search of the area."

Both bodies were found fairly close to the shore and fishing rods were found nearby.

"The wind was about a force five, which is about 30mph and waves in some cases were reaching about 12ft in height," he added.

Terry Dixon lived in Saron, a village with a population of around 2,000, around six miles from the Ceredigion town of Llandysul and some 16 miles from Carmarthen.

He moved to the village after living in nearby Drefach Felindre. He and his wife Polly have two daughters in a local secondary school.

His younger brother Tony Dixon was visiting him from Knapthorpe, Nottinghamshire.

'Freak wave'

John Crossley, a Carmarthenshire county councillor in Drefach Felindre, said: "This is a very sad loss to the community. We're all coming to terms with the news today.

"I personally know Mwnt very well, it's a very popular place for fishermen and in the past I have been there with my father-in-law to fish.

However, the rocks there are very slippery and the sea can be rough there too, which I understand was the case there yesterday.

"From what I understand, it may have been a freak wave that dragged the two brothers out into the sea."

Coastguard George Crumpler, who oversaw the rescue operation, said: "Obviously every rescue we want to be successful.

"Unfortunately that can't always happen and the really demoralising side of it is a lot of accidents are preventable. That's the worst part of it."

He warned fishermen to check the weather and local tides and to wear lifejackets if going near rocks.