Shark fright for jetski trio (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Shark fright for jetski trio

10:23am Tuesday 17th June 2008

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Three pals from St Dogmaels had a lucky escape at sea over the weekend when their jetski snagged on a trailing rope and they claimed they were circled by a shark.

Aled Rees, Lewis Fletcher and Steff Thomas set off on a three-seat jetski from Traeth Mawr in Newport Pembs on Saturday afternoon.

They were pulling a body board and about a mile and a half offshore a trailing rope was sucked into the jetski cutting off the engine.

The jetski, which was not equipped with flares or VHF radio, drifted out to sea for about 15 minutes before Lewis used a mobile telephone to contact his father Peter who is an auxiliary coastguard at Moylegrove.

His father raised the alarm and the Fishguard lifeboat was scrambled.

In the meantime the three friends, all of whom were wearing wetsuits, decided to swim ashore pushing the jetski.

But shortly after entering the water they spotted a large fin some 20 metres away and the three scrambled back on board.

Taking up the story Steff said: "We saw the fin and it circled the jetski twice before disappearing.

"We couldn't see if it was a basking shark or some other shark, but it was quite frightening, especially as we were helpless," he said.

"Fortunately we had a mobile phone and we'd like to thank the lifeboat crew who were marvellous. But for them I hate to think what might have happened.

"From now on we will pay more attention to safety and carry flares," he said.

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: "We would urge anyone putting to sea to ensure they have all the correct safety equipment such as radios, flares and life jackets."

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