Two men were rescued from the water at Whitmore Bay yesterday evening, one with an open fracture on his lower leg.

The men had been cut off by the tide, and were attempting to climb the rocks by Friars Point, but fell into the water.

Surf Life Saving group were completing an exam in the area at approximately 6.15pm, when they spotted the men.

Whitmore Bay Surf Life Saving group were also training at the scene. Coach Mark Harris described how while the SLS boat went to rescue the men from the water, his group retrieved a stretcher from their clubhouse.

"We ran down and met the boat as it came onto the shore with the patient. Straightaway, I could see blood coming from his head," said Mark.

"I was also informed by the crew of the boat that he had broken his ankle. I happened to be the person with the mobile phone, so I made the 999 call at 6.20pm.

"While that was happening, they recovered the second person. He was described to me as passing in and out of consciousness, but he was able to walk up the beach and sit in the clubhouse.

"One of the trainers who was down there was an off-duty first responder, so he took charge.

"Lots of us have basic first aid knowledge by being involved in lifeguarding, but he had the most senior knowledge so he took over and looked after the patient," he said.

Mark said the fast response doctor arrived, followed by Barry Coastguard, an air ambulance, police and two ambulances.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called on Tuesday 26 May at approximately 18.25 to reports of a person needing urgent medical attention after falling in the water in Barry.

"We responded with one rapid response vehicle, two emergency ambulance, one vehicle from the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service and our crews were supported by the Wales Air Ambulance. One patient was transported by road ambulance to University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff."

"They were very lucky people that they happened to fall in the water within a couple of hundred meters of training lifeguards and the lifeguard station," said Mark.

Chris Fletcher, Station Manager of Barry Coastguard said: "A big thank you to the local lifesaving groups.

"They were the ones who saw the men and pulled them out the water, which gave them a much better chance.

"We advise everybody to be aware of the tide times and areas of safety whenever they are near beaches."

For daily updates on what's happening in Barry, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up to our free weekly newsletter featuring exclusive articles for subscribers - just type your email into the box below.