THREE people had a lucky escape yesterday (Thursday) when a large wave capsized their rigid inflatable boat (rib) off Sandtop Bay on the south-west side of Caldey Island.

Tenby’s relief RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched on Thursday not knowing the fate of the occupants.

But as the lifeboat made best speed towards the island, news came through from the coastguard that the three occupants of the rib had made it ashore and were cold but otherwise safe and well.

As the volunteer crew arrived at Sandtop, they could see the upturned vessel inside the surf line, near the beach.

Due to the large swell running into the beach, it was too dangerous to attempt to retrieve the boat.

A short time later, the rib washed ashore on Sandtop where the occupants and some of their colleagues that had arrived on Caldey to help, were waiting to pull it out of the water. Their plan was to tow it off and back to Lydstep later in the day once the swell subsided.

With the vessel ashore and nobody in danger, the lifeboat was released to return to station, arriving at 2.25pm.