Child, 8, among four paddleboarders rescued at Llandanwg beach

Four paddleboarders, including an eight-year-old child, have been rescued at sea after being blown offshore by the wind. Two teenagers, one adult and the child were using two paddleboards when they were blown offshore at Llandanwg Beach, south of Harlech, Gwynedd, on Thursday. RNLI said volunteers were called to the "rapidly evolving situation" at 16:15 BST, after a family member on the shore became concerned. One paddleboarder was found in the water "suffering severely from the effects of the cold", while the others were holding onto one of the paddleboards some distance offshore. All four paddleboarders were rescued, as well as a member of the public who entered the sea to try and help. Criccieth RNLI launched its Atlantic 85 lifeboat, The Frank Townley, in order to reach the distressed paddleboarders. A Coastguard rescue helicopter from Caernarfon was also scrambled. Owing to the tide, the lifeboat landed on a sandbank on its return, and the casualties were walked ashore - with one of the five carried on a paddleboard owing to their "weakened condition". Holyhead Coastguards and the RNLI said it highlighted how quickly conditions can change at sea, particularly with offshore win