Penarth's RNLI and Coastguard teams were called out yesterday evening to the River Usk in the centre of Newport as part of a multi-agency response.

RNLI Penarth said: ''After posting the story about our shop and events closing. No sooner had I put it on Facebook, our pagers activated to launch our larger Atlantic lifeboat.

''An unusual call - But, it's not just the sea that we rescue people from.

''Our Atlantic lifeboat was tasked to an incident on the river Usk right in the centre of Newport.

''We assisted Gwent Police, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and both of Penarth and Chepstow coastguards with an incident in the city centre near the Clarence Road Bridge.

''Pleased to say that the incident was soon resolved and our crew members returned to station around 8:15 pm.

''If anyone needed confidence that we are operational in these uncertain times, this shows it.''

The Casualty involved in the incident was handed over to Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.