Man backflips into sea in the middle of Storm Ellen

WalesOnline ^ | 21 AUG 2020 | Laura Clements

[nickcarraway]

One man was captured doing backflips into the stormy seas

A man was pictured doing backflips into stormy seas as Storm Ellen hit the Welsh coastline on Thursday evening.

As waves pummelled into the concrete seawall, three unknown males took it in turns to launch themselves into the water at Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire.

Dave Richards, harbourmaster at Saundersfoot, said the actions of the three men were "totally stupid" and risked putting unnecessary strain on the RNLI and Coastguard at peak summertime.

Around 100 people had gathered in the car park to watch the spectacle of the 8pm high tide which coincided with high winds from the named storm.

At one point, a bystander threw a life buoy from the car park into the water for one of the males to cling onto and dragged him back towards dry land.

One witness who lives locally, who didn't want to be named, said there was "no shame" from the three men, all of whom had jumped into the water.

"I really think if it hadn't have been for the life ring, he would have been a goner," he said. "It was just so dangerous. When he was pulled out, there wasn't so much as a thank you from him."

Another bystander, in orange high-viz clothing, was pictured clambering onto the sloping sides to pull the swimmer out. Pembrokeshire Council and the Saundersfoot Harbour Authority have both confirmed none of their officers were involved or were at the scene at the time.

Mr Richards said all his staff had gone home by 8pm and he had only been informed of the behaviour by locals telling him what had happened.

"Their actions are not recognised by the harbour authority at all," Mr Richards said. "It's totally stupid to think you can jump in the sea in the middle of a gale like that.

"It's a shame they would have put strain on the RNLI and the Coastguard if they had got into trouble. It's totally unacceptable. Common sense should prevail."

Mr Richards added that in all his years, he had never witnessed or heard anything like it before.

The RNLI and Coastguard were not notified of the actions of the three men.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

In the past, I was known to drink too many beers. So many that in the morning, I often had a ‘skull attack’. I usually drank ‘Molson Export Ale’ because it was easy to order, if I had an issue speaking or it was too loud to be heard at the hall. Simply make an ‘X’ with your index fingers and they got the message. Drinking ‘Labatt’s Blue’ lager led to not just a ‘skull attack’ in the AM, but a violent and odiferous ‘gas attack’, one that was vile enough to gag a maggot!

[nickcarraway]

You should try this into Fresh Kills.