THE manager of a popular Meirionnydd campsite has warned it is “only a matter of time” before a rescue volunteer loses their life attempting to save somebody else.

The safety warning came after a man was dragged out to sea off Shell Island last weekend after attempting to swim back to his marooned vehicle.

Last Friday night, HM Coastguard crew battled with rising sea levels to rescue the stricken driver who had to be airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd following his misadventure.

The man from Liverpool, who was on holiday with his family, was rescued by Coastguard staff who had dragged him to safety from chest-height water, stabilised him and winched him to the waiting helicopter. He was exhibiting signs of hypothermia when he was airlifted.

The vastly popular campsite is cut off by the tide twice a day and the man was washed 50 metres offshore before he was reached by the coastguard’s station master Richard Workman, who also happens to be the general manager of Shell Island.

Brave Richard said: “It’s only a matter of time before a rescue volunteer loses their life attempting to save someone who hasn’t paid attention to the information in front of them.

“We have signs along the causeway and the beach and yet people are just ignoring them and getting themselves into trouble."

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