THREE rowers who were plucked from the sea by New Quay lifeboat in the early stages of Storm Arwen on Friday morning were subsequently treated to a meal of fish and chips by their rescuers, it has emerged.

New Quay’s Mersey-class lifeboat, the Frank and Lena of Stourbridge, received a shout at 8.15am that an ocean rowing boat with four occupants had capsized 18 miles north-west of the RNLI station.

And dramatic RNLI footage has emerged of the New Quay lifeboat - carrying six volunteers - speeding from its station amid worsening conditions as Storm Arwen gathered force.

Following a joint operation with the Coastguard rescue helicopter and Barmouth lifeboat, the New Quay crew took aboard three of the exhausted rowers after a fourth was airlifted to hospital suffering from head injuries.

The team had been attempting to reach the Welsh coast from Ireland as part of their training for a trans-Atlantic attempt.

 “The three casualties were very grateful and thanked all the crew,” said New Quay RNLI coxswain Dan Potter.

“After being checked over by a doctor they stayed with us in the boathouse for a couple of hours.

“They had time to warm up and we got them fish and chips before they headed up to Aberystwyth to meet their other crew member.

“We wish them all the best for their trans-Atlantic crossing next year.” 

Mr Potter had earlier described the rescue operation as: “A great outcome in difficult conditions and a good example of lifeboats and the Coastguard working together in life-threatening situations.”