Lifeboat rescue marred by vandals

The crew rescued two surfers who had got into difficulty

A volunteer lifeboat crew say they are angry and disgusted by an attack by vandals on their station which was discovered while they were on a rescue.

One brass donation plate was stolen at Porthcawl lifeboat station, and another was ripped off a door.

The vandalism was discovered after crews rescued two surfers swept out to sea off the town's Rest Bay.

A Porthcawl RNLI spokesman said the crime was "especially hurtful" when the crew were out doing something good.

Ian Stroud said: "All the volunteer crew and shore crew are extremely angry and disgusted that some one has caused such wilful damage and theft to their station property.

"Besides the rescue and lifesaving duties of the station personnel they also carry out, with great pride the day-to-day cleaning and maintenance of the lifeboat station.

The damaged brass plate at the lifeboat station

"To say they are angry is probably not a strong enough description of their feelings."

It is thought the brass plates, which are the front of donation boxes, were vandalised and stolen between midnight last Wednesday and 1900 BST on Friday.

The theft was discovered as the 'Rose of the Shires' RNLI lifeboat based at Porthcawl was launched on Friday to rescue the surfers who had been swept out to sea in a rip current.

Lifeboat operations manager at Porthcawl, Philip Missen, said both surfers were taken on board the lifeboat and returned safely to the lifeboat station.

"Paramedics and an ambulance had been called to check over both surfers who were from the Swansea area," said Mr Missen.

"The one who had gone to the aid of his friend was fine but the other surfer was treated for over half an hour at the lifeboat station before being transferred by ambulance to hospital."