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Major sea rescue launched for three climbers on Welsh coast

Gavin ThomasBBC Wales
Dennis Reeves Two helicopters around a coastlineDennis Reeves
The incident was first reported at 16:00 BST on Thursday

A major rescue operation has been launched off the Pembrokeshire coast following an incident involving three rock climbers.

The Coastguard was called to St Govan's Head at about 16:00 GMT on Thursday.

A helicopter, rescue teams from Fishguard, St Govan's and Tenby were sent, as well as an Irish Coastguard helicopter and two Wales Air Ambulances. An RNLI lifeboat from Angle also attended.

Dyfed-Powys Police was also in attendance.

Getty Images Cliffs at St Govan's Head. The sky is blue and cloudy. The waves crash into the cliff face.Getty Images
HM Coastguard said it was responding to an incident involving three fallen climbers at St Govan's Head

St Govan's Head is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with the limestone cliffs towering up to 40m (131 ft) above the sea.

There are as many as 300 recognised climbing routes, with some graded beyond "Hard Very Severe", according to the British Mountaineering Council.

In some areas there are unstable rocks and the cliffs are closed to climbing in spring and summer months due to nesting sea birds.

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