As it happens they made the right choice because if they had stayed on the beach they would have probably drowned

Milford Haven coastguard

The boys were part of a group of six youngsters and two dogs.

The pair split away from the main party to take a short cut along the beach.

Andrew Hodgson, of Milford Haven coastguard, said the group left Saundersfoot for Broadfield Caravan Park two miles along the coast as night fell.

"We got a call from one of the youngsters in the main group who became worried about 30 minutes after the two boys headed off along the beach.

'Scrambling up cliff'

"They were down on the beach up to their waists in water with the tide coming in fast.

"They had to choose between staying down there as the sea came and scrambling up the cliff.

"As it happens they made the right choice because if they had stayed on the beach they would have probably drowned."

He said the rescue had descended into confusion when it was realised that the other group of four boys - who made the 999 call on a mobile phone - were lost themselves.

The other two emerged, soaking wet and freezing cold, but they came up trumps

Milford Haven coastguard

"The main confusion was that the four boys who kept together on the trail along the cliffs didn't realise that they were lost," added Mr Hodgson.

"As it turned out all of them were lost. Not long after they were located the other two emerged, soaking wet and freezing cold, but they came up trumps.

"At the end of the day they were very, very lucky. They made the right choice but it could have been the wrong one," he said.

He said that Milford Haven and Tenby coastguard, Tenby in-shore lifeboat, a police ground unit and a helicopter with an infra red camera all took part in the search.