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RNLI rescues elderly man stranded with wheelie bin

The RNLI has been called to rescue an elderly man who had been swept out to sea while trying to save his wheelie bin.

The 81-year-old man, who was not named, was found in a small, inflatable rubber dingy holding on to his bin about a mile out to sea off Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey last Friday (10 September).

The conditions were described as one of the highest tides of the year and a strong 25mph wind.

The volunteer lifeboat crew found the man, who was not wearing a Lifejacket or water proof clothing, very cold and wet and the dingy half full of water.

He was transferred to another boat for first aid and, after identifying that he might be suffering from mild hypothermia the crew requested an ambulance.   He was then taken to hospital in Bangor.

The crew towed in the dingy and wheelie bin that was still half full of rubbish.

Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station press officer Dave Massey said: "The Volunteer Lifeboat crews have dealt with a wide variety of emergency calls over the years but I am sure that this is the first time we have been involved in towing in a wheelie bin."

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