RNLI lifeguards commended as casualty is reunited with team who saved his life

Mark Ferrer, who was pulled from the water in near gale force conditions on 2 April 2025, reunited with the South Cornwall lifeguard team whose courage, skill and teamwork ensured his survival. It was the first time they had seen each other since the incident, marking a powerful testament to the lifesaving work of RNLI lifeguards.

The rescue unfolded in the final hours of the team’s two week pre-season training programme. The nine lifeguards, including supervisors and trainers, had spent the day practising Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) manoeuvres and were gathered in the lifeguard hut for a debrief when Falmouth Coastguard received multiple 999 calls reporting a swimmer in difficulty off Hoe Point, a headland to the west of the beach.

With the sun low on the horizon, glare made it almost impossible to spot anyone in the water. Despite this, Senior Lifeguard Matt Trewhella entered the sea in only his shorts, paddling a rescue board through powerful swell and strong currents. Around 200 metres offshore, he located Mark, barely responsive, struggling to keep his head above water and being pushed steadily westward toward the rocks and cliff at Sydney Cove.

Recognising the danger, Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Adam Harris launched into the surf with a second rescue board, while lifeguards Dave Revell and Elliot McCluskey sprinted back to the hut for rescue tubes and fins. Battling dumping waves, the four lifeguards worked together to stabilise Mark and manoeuvre him away from the rocks. After roughly 15 minutes in the water, they succeeded in bringing him safely to shore.

On the beach, RNLI lifeguards Nelly Gallichan, Paul Richards and Hamish Curtis-Cullen immediately took over casualty care. Mark had swallowed a lot of water and was suffering from mild hypothermia as well as shock from the ordeal. Oxygen therapy and close monitoring continued until paramedics arrived and transported him for further treatment. He went on to make a full recovery.

The commendation honours the lifeguards’ bravery, professionalism and seamless coordination. For Mark, the reunion offered a chance to thank the team who saved his life:

‘Thank you doesn’t really cover it. I’m very fortunate that there are people out there who are prepared to put their lives in danger and put themselves in harm’s way even though they don’t know me, have never met me and that’s not lost on me at all, I won’t ever forget it. 

 
‘I’m fortunate that they happened to be there on a training day and were having a debrief at the end of the day before going home, so there were many things that revolved around that group of lifeguards and are the only reason how I’m here today, I know that’s the truth. Thank you isn’t enough but just so they know I appreciate what they did.’ 

RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor, Adam Harris, says, ‘I’m incredibly proud of the team of nine lifeguards who, although weren’t on active duty, showed incredible courage and teamwork to save the life of a holiday maker at Praa Sands. If we were not there, I fear there would have been a completely different outcome.