Barmouth Beach emergency: Two Coastguard helicopters scrambled to major rescue mission

Coastguard helicopters descended on a beach in Wales amid initial unconfirmed reports on social media that a "father and his two sons" might have got into difficulty. Two helicopters were filmed circling Barmouth Beach in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, on Monday (May 27).

An RNLI lifeboat was pictured on the beach, with the emergency services launching a rescue mission. A North Wales Police spokesperson said officers were helping HM Coastguard with the incident at Barmouth Beach.

They added: "We kindly ask people to keep away from the area while emergency services deal with the incident."

A Royal National Lifeboat Institution spokeswoman said only that the RNLI's all-weather and inshore lifeboats from Barmouth were called to a "multi-agency" incident at Barmouth Beach at about 5.50pm on Monday.

Concerned well-wishers took to social media, with one posting on Facebook that they hope the search around Barmouth Beath "has a happy ending".

Another posted that they could see two helicopters, a boat and "so many" police at the scene. A third posted: "I really hope it's a false alarm at Barmouth."

A spokesman from HM Coastguard said the service coordinated the response after receiving a report of concern for a person in the water at Barmouth Beach.

He added: "The alarm was raised at about 5.50pm on May 27. Two HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopters were sent as well as Coastguard Rescue Teams from Barmouth, Aberdovey and Aberystwyth.

"The RNLI’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats from Barmouth were also sent."

The spokesman confirmed a person was recovered from the water and flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital in Bangor.

He added that the Welsh Ambulance Service and North Wales Police also attended.

Barmouth is said to be Eryri National Park's most popular seaside resort, with its beach drawing crowds on sunny days.

Abermaw, the town's beach, faces Cardigan Bay.