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For call out details see Incidents link above

60 Minute Makeover

On Jan 25th The 60 Minute Makeover show on ITV providing a makeover SOS.For the Gower Sector Manager Lee surprised his wife, then mum-to-be Beverly. Beverly and Lee have been married for one year and have always desperate to have a baby. Beverly was thrilled to be 8 months pregnant after 3 years of IVF treatment. The couple had been saving hard to decorate their house, but disaster struck when the boiler broke and took most of their savings to replace. It's only one month to go before the baby is due and Beverly is starting to get suspicious that Lee still hasn't done the nursery . . . what she doesn't know is that he's enlisted a little help from the 60 Minute Makeover team!
Note:Beverly later give Birth to a lovely baby girl.

Harbour Porpoise 27th Dec

Called to harbour Porpoise washed up on Aberavon Beach reported by a member of public.Details taken for Natural History Museum.

Medi Vac 28th Dec

Port Talbot Coastguard were called to a 20 year male who had been hit by a scrambler motorbike on Aberavon beach sustaining a broken leg.Due to the casualties position being near the Neath river end of Aberavon beach.Para medics were collected by the coastguard mobile while two of the crew remained with the casualty administering first aid. After the paramedic`s had made the casualty stable. The Air Ambulance was then called in to evacuate him to Morriston Hospital.Police also in attendance.

Review of 2006

2006 was a very busy year for the station with 56 incidents to date. January may have been an indication of what was to come it started with 7 incidents out of which 4 used helicopter assistance.

One of which was the rescue of a man from the water which earned the lifeboat crew a number of awards and seen Rescue helicopter 169 pluck the remaining crewman from the vessel before it over turned in the surf. On the 22nd there were 3 incidents all within a short space of each other. Then a run of similar incidents including cars stuck on the beach and missing children and adults.

Unfortunaly while trying to deal with call of collapsed people hart attack victims and vessels in distress, we also seen a few hoax calls start to creep back in. These pointless calls could kill someone if we are on a wild goose chase while someone is in need of assistance.

There was a few notable calls during the summer one to a unconscious child aged 3 which the lifeguards very professionally dealt with and seen her make a recovery before the Para medics arrived. They were also involved indirectly with saving the life of a fisherman who was washed off the pier in bad weather conditions only a few weeks ago.

Incidents 2006 to Dec 30th 57 Medi Vac 3 Vessel Distress 7 Search 10 Hoax inc Good 4 vehicle 3 Bridge Incident 3 missing children 4 first aid 2 EPERB 1 cut off 1 Person in water 13 Porpoise 2 Children playing chicken 2 Ordance 2

We also had to close the beach off when a maroon fired to alert the lifeboat crew failed to go off and came back to earth. This was then later explored by the bomb disposal unit from the royal navy Plymouth. The weather has also been interesting with some very strong winds which made for some bad seas which attracted crowds to the seafront the only problem with this is that some people are putting themselves and their children in real danger. Please if you're going to watch these conditions respect that they are dangerous and watch from a safe distance.

For a full run down of the calls we had over the year see the incidents link above. Please keep your self safe in 2007 and if you're ever in need of advice contact your local coastguard station or co-ordination centre.

Ordinance Aberavon Beach

A Royal Navy Bomb Disposal unit from Plymouth was called in by Coastguards.After a Maroon fired to alert the Lifeboat crew to a earlier incident failed to go off and fell back to earth ,when a kite surfer got in to difficulties and lost his kite which had blown a mile out to sea. A large area of the seafront had to be cordoned off for 5 hours until it was later safely detonated see video left.

Pier Aberavon Beach

There has been a few incidents this year on the north pier Aberavon beach.We wish to remind people of the dangers. As stated by Associated British Ports. 1.The structure is private property.It is a breakwater to aid navigation to the docks and river.This structure is not designed or intended for use by the public.The elements can make the surface slippery. 2.If you have reason to access this structure then you MUST take care for YOUR safety and that of others.Access is entirely at YOUR own risk.

• Beware of wave wash
• Beware of high winds
• Do not climb on the rocks
• Do not run or cycle
• Supervise children

3.Use caution at all times do not use during hours of darkness.
May I also add if you are going to use the pier please check both tide and weather forecast.

Remembrance Sunday 2006

The crews of Port Talbot Coastguard and Lifeboat again took part in this years services.The wreath`s being placed by Mr Arthur Aurbrey Rtd and Mr Ron Jones.Port Talbot Sea cadets also pictured took part in a service on saturday in the town centre.

HM Coastguard Incident Statistics 2005

MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE	TOTAL INCIDENTS	ASSISTANCE RENDERED	HOAX	NUMBER OF PERSONS ASSISTED	NUMBER OF PERSONS RESCUED	LIVES LOST
Swansea	1028	283	14	448	360	28