A Sandbach man missed Father's Day celebrations to help rescue a yacht which had got into difficulties off the Welsh coast.

Dave Hursthouse has joined Porthdinllaen RNLI volunteer team, splitting his time between Cheshire and Wales.

And last weekend, he found himself missing a celebratory Father's Day meal being cooked by one of his daughters when he got a call which needed him to go to sea.

Dave said: "We'd been out doing some navigation training in the morning which was quite intense and mentally challenging.

"I got back about 2.30pm and was having a catch up and coffee with my wife and some friends in the garden, looking forward to my daughter finishing work at 5pm to come over and make me (and my wife) a Father's Day dinner.

"My pager went off at 4.58 pm so out I went. The meal went ahead without me and mine was in the warming drawer when I returned home at around 11.45pm after helping to clean and refuel the boat and a debrief.

"It's a huge team effort on the crew and we all rely on each other - not just the boat crew but the essential shore crew who we can't launch and recover without.

"There were at least six fathers amongst us on the crew (and a couple of daughters) and we just accept that when the pager goes off, plans get put aside to respond as quickly and safely as we can."

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Dave Hursthouse has joined Porthdinllaen RNLI volunteer tea. (Photo: Dave Hursthouse)

A spokesperson from the RNLI said: " On Sunday (21 June), at 5 pm, Porthdinllaen RNLI volunteer team were tasked by UK Coastguard to launch to assist a yacht with mechanical issues near Llanddwyn.

"The vessel a 14-meter ketch type with a single occupant aboard, had experienced mechanical issues, and attempts to carry out a repair were unsuccessful."

The RNLI said it was decided that due to the size of the craft, the safest option was to tow the vessel to Holyhead harbour where repairs could be carried out by the owner.

An experienced member of the lifeboat team was transferred aboard on to the yacht to set up a tow line.

Coxswain Owain Williams said: "As always, we were glad to be of assistance today, the casualty had attempted repairs but due to the nature of the fault and spares required, this would have to be carried out in a safe heaven."

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