Anglers set off at night without lifejackets, radios or gear


Three anglers had to be rescued by helicopter after setting off for a nighttime fishing trip without basic safety gear or communication equipment in North Wales.

The three men, said to be aged in their 20s and from Manchester, had to call for help with a mobile phone at midnight after the engine failed in their 28ft fishing boat near Newborough Beach, off the coast of Caernarfon.

A coastguard Seach and Rescue (SAR) helicopter winched the men out the Beaumaris RNLI lifeboat and flew them to hospital in Bangor. One of the men received treatment for hypothermia and the other two were suffering with the cold and sea sickness.

According to the BBC, Holyhead coastguards have criticised the men for leaving at 19:00 BST without lifejackets, VHF radios, foul weather clothing, any sort of navigation system or even distress flares.

They also said that the boat was in a poorly maintained condition.