Dramatic RNLI rescue as surfer gets trapped under cliffs

Dramatic footage has been released of the moment RNLI volunteers rescued a surfer who had got trapped beneath a cliff.

The male surfer had got caught in rip current while surfing in Porthcawl and was swept around the headland.

Onlookers had spotted that the surfer had got into difficulty and contacted the Coastguard after dialling 999.

Conditions were difficult two metre-high waves but crews headed out to find the surfer as the tide was approaching him on the cliffs.

Video footage released by the RNLI show them shouting to the surfer to keep swimming towards the boat.

One crew member is heard shouting, "Get him on board" repeatedly.

They eventually pull him on to the rescue boat and head back towards shore.

Watch the video in full:

Chris Missen, helm of Porthcawl Lifeboat said: "As we headed to the location visibility was fairly poor with a sea fog, however as we arrived on scene the crew spotted the surfer almost immediately, beneath the cliffs.

"Once the surfer saw our lifeboat he re-entered the water and started to paddle out through the surf. The conditions were fairly challenging with 1-2m breaking waves but I managed to position the lifeboat in the surf zone so that the crew could pull the surfer from the water."

Aileen Jones MBE, RNLI Deputy Launch Authority said the crew did "a great job in difficult conditions."

"There was a heavy swell and the tide was still incoming meaning it was time critical as the surfer was trapped beneath the cliffs. The RNLI has some great information regarding rip currents and staying safe if surfing through the winter months on its website: RNLI.org."