Lifeguard rescue: Off-duty but always on alert

Because the bay faces north-west and the swell was coming in, there were some pretty decent waves there. They looked to be about chest-height (a little over 4ft) but then every few minutes a big set of four to six waves would roll in. These were taller than me, over 6ft, but they weren’t peeling very well – which means the whole wave would break at once, which isn’t good for surfing. When I got in the water, I was trying not to get caught on the inside of these huge breaking waves. They weren’t surfable and I didn’t want to get tumbled by all the white water coming through. So I was just surfing the smaller waves, paddling out the back when I saw the big sets coming, then coming back in again for a few more waves.

Noticing when something’s gone wrong in the water

I’d been in the water for about an hour. As I went over a wave, I looked left and right to keep an eye on where I was in the bay and I caught a glimpse of something over by the rocks to my right. I was too far away to see what it was – initially I thought it was another surfer, which would’ve been good because there was no one else on the beach by that point. But as I watched for a couple of minutes, I realised it wasn’t a surfer.

My brain was trying to make sense of things because it just looked like a head and shoulders, and they were so close to the rocks. A diver? I wondered why they’d be out in waves like that. There was some rhythmic splashing going on, but it didn’t look quite right, so I paddled over to see what it was. As I got closer, I couldn’t believe what I was looking at: two children on bodyboards were facing towards the shore and kicking hard against the current as they were being dragged out to sea. They must have been so tired. 

The children were right next to the rocks, which was scary because I knew the bigger waves were coming. I paddled closer. One of them began screaming for help; they knew it was a serious situation and they were doing their best to try to get out of it themselves. I didn’t want to get too close and find us all washed over the rocks as the next big waves came, so I called out: 'Swim towards me!' 

I told them they were caught in a rip current that was taking them out to sea, and that they needed to come towards me. I was further into the bay and that would put them out of the rip. I think they were too tired to make any progress, so I paddled into the channel. I handed one of them the middle of the leash from the back of my surfboard to hold onto. I knew I needed to get in and out quickly, so initially I said I’d take them one at a time – but they were so frightened that they both clung on for dear life, which I could totally understand. I pulled both of them on their bodyboards and we managed to get out of the current. 

Assessing the safest strategy for rescue

Once we got into the middle of the bay, I stopped to catch my breath and work out how to get them to shore. I was explaining that the big set of waves would be coming soon. I was hoping we’d be able to sit it out where we were long enough for it to pass – then we could make our way back in, once the waves were a bit smaller. I explained that if we got caught by the big set, we might get tumbled and, if so, we’d just come back up and then I’d be right back with them. 

It wasn’t a great feeling, seeing those big waves coming towards us. But I was so glad we were no longer next to the rocks. Quickly assessing the best way to tackle the situation, I knew I needed to get underneath the wave with my board – but also that I couldn’t take the children under with me. And I was very conscious of how close I was to them. If the huge wave tumbled us all with my surfboard, someone could be hit badly.

I asked them to let go of my leash, so that I could get up some speed and punch through the back of the wave in a turtle roll. The children were scared to let go but they listened to me and did as I asked. I needed to be far enough away from them that even if the roll went wrong and I was pulled backwards, I wouldn’t land on them.

I got up enough speed and turned the board over, making it through the wave. Then I turned around to see where the children were. They’d been dragged quite a distance and had both lost their bodyboards – so now they were just two tired children in the water, too exhausted to swim very well, crying for help. 

They managed to get to each other and hold on, but they were terrified. In trying to cling to each other and keep their heads above the water while panicking, they inevitably kept pushing each other under. I paddled over to them as quickly as possible and held them on my board as the big waves passed over us. Luckily the following waves had broken far enough away that we managed to stay together, and the right way up on the surfboard, as they hit.

Bringing everyone safely ashore

I then moved around to the back of the board and swam us back into the shallows while they held onto the sides. Their parents arrived on the beach as I paddled us back in, so I think they missed the worst of it.

We were all quite knackered by the time we got to standing height! As we waded out of the water, I ran through our lifeguard CHUMS check (companions, head injuries, unconsciousness, medications or other substances, swallowed water), which we learn and practise in training. The big thing I was concerned about was whether there might be further complications if they had inhaled water while being tumbled by the wave. 

Understanding what went wrong

The children told me that they’d got in the water and had been moved slowly out into deeper water – but they didn’t notice the pull of the current until they found they couldn’t stand. And then it just kept pulling them further out. They did well to stay together in that channel.

On the beach, everyone was so grateful. Their parents asked what had happened. I caught my breath and gathered myself. One of the adults was quite tearful and took the children to get changed. While they were gone, I described to the other what had happened and why. Drawing an illustration on the sand, I showed them the bay and the movement of the waves into the beach and then out along the sides. I explained: 'The waves are pushing water into the bay that then needs to find its way back out. Often that will happen along the edges, forming a channel with a strong current. I found the children caught in that channel.’

I went on to explain what I’d done to get them out of there, and that I was an off-duty lifeguard. I emphasised the need to get checked by a medical professional in case there were any further complications if they had inhaled any water. 

They’d been staying at a nearby caravan site. The children said they were trying to 'be brave', running ahead and getting in the water before their parents came down – even though they’d been told not to go in alone. It’s easy to underestimate how quickly you can find yourself in danger and they just didn’t know what they didn’t know. 

If they’d all arrived together, the adults would have been able to say: 'No, don’t go in – it’s not safe.' As it was, when their parents got to the beach they were met with the shocking sight of big waves and the two weary children clinging to my surfboard. Without me there, though, it would have been too late to spot them in the water at all.

Understanding my own limits

After rescuing the children, I was planning to get back into the water, but the waves had grown even bigger. Even though it was a sunny day, the waves were just dark walls rolling in. They were at the limit of what I could enjoy before it gets too difficult, so I called it a day.

Our training in rip currents and coastal topography is so helpful – it’s expanded my existing knowledge as a surfer and goes with me every time I’m in the water, or preparing to get in. The RNLI rescue training made a huge difference in this rescue – being a lifeguard meant I wasn’t attempting something new in such difficult conditions. Understanding how my board might handle with more people on it allowed me to adapt to the situation. My training and work as a lifeguard has made me more confident and comfortable in the water. I have faith that I know what’s going on, that I’m reading the situation right and making sound decisions. I’m so grateful to every single person who’s donated to make this training possible.

The children helped in their own rescue

I didn’t do it alone; the children worked with me to be rescued. It was really good that they shouted for help as soon as they saw me. And that – although they were terrified with the big set of waves coming in – they listened to me and let go of the surfboard when I needed them to. It’s so important to listen when someone is trying to help you – but that’s not easy in a panic.

The following Monday, one of the parents put a request out on social media saying they were looking for a surfer and lifeguard from Dundee called Callum. Within a couple of hours, one of my friends had contacted me about it. So I messaged them and reintroduced myself. The kids and adults both sent me thank you messages, which was really nice. I’m so glad they were all safe and well after such a frightening experience.

Callum’s tips from this rescue

• Be aware of how quickly things can go wrong, even when you’re taking all the precautions. 
• Go to a lifeguarded beach, and swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags. Ask the lifeguards for safety advice about that beach, they will be more than happy to help you enjoy your day as safely as possible. 
• Be very cautious when entering the water – try not to go in alone.
• It can be quite difficult to notice when you’re being dragged out, unless you’re standing in the sand and feeling the water pushing against you. As a surfer, I choose reference points to see what geographical features I’m in line with – where in the width of the bay am I, and how far out to sea am I at each moment?
• If you find yourself caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore to get out of it. 
• Float to live. If you’re struggling to breathe, turn over onto your back, float, and catch your breath.
• Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. As soon as you realise you’re in difficulty, call for help – even if you’re not sure you really need it.