VOLUNTEER crew with the Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat faced five call outs in six days, making it a very busy week.

The first shout was to reports of a capsized yacht off Sully Island on Thursday, August 27.

Barry’s All Weather and Inshore lifeboats were both launched and headed at speed to the area to search for the casualty.

The lifeboats were joined in the search by rescue helicopter 169.

After a thorough search and speaking to yachtsman sailing in the area, the search was called off as a false alarm with good intent.

A further call out later in the day and was investigated by the All Weather lifeboat before being called off and also classed as false alarm with good intent.

Volunteer crew were tasked to help a 38 foot yacht with a broken down engine on Friday, August 28.

The crew launched the lifeboat at 8.40pm and towed the yacht and lone sailor back to the safety of Barry Harbour.

The lifeboat returned to its station by 9.30pm.

The next emergency call out came on Saturday afternoon after reports of people on the water at Sully Island.

Both the All Weather and Inshore lifeboats were launched.

Both boats left Barry at 4.55pm and were on scene four minutes later.

Penarth’s Inshore lifeboat joined Barry’s lifeboats in the search.

No people were in the water, but five people were rescued from the island and taken ashore.

The volunteer crew were called out at 1.20am on Tuesday, September 1 when the volunteer crew were asked to assist someone with a possible broken leg on Friars Point.

Both lifeboats were launched to search the shoreline for the casualty. Coastguards were also on scene to search from the shore.

After a thorough search, all units were stood down. The call out is thought to have been a hoax call.

Later that morning, members of the volunteer crew travelled to Conwy to bring back a relief lifeboat that will be used while Barry’s All Weather lifeboat has essential maintenance carried out.

The RNLI is a charity that carries out its lifesaving work thanks to the generosity of the public and the dedication of its volunteers.

Volunteers make up 95 per cent of the charity which saves an average of 23 lives a day across the UK and Ireland.

If you are interested in volunteering in one of the many available roles, call the lifeboat station on 01446 735678.