RNLI lifeguards help an unconscious teenager at Bantham beach

At 2.25pm RNLI lifeguards were alerted to a girl in difficulty in the water when her friend started calling for help. RNLI senior lifeguard Loic Doison ran into the water to help support the 17-year-old who had fallen unconscious.

The beach was extremely busy on Sunday, with as many as 500 people in the water in 3-4ft swell.

Loic, with support from two other lifeguards, brought the girl ashore where they immediately commenced casualty care.

Loic said: ‘When we got the casualty from the water she was unconscious but breathing. We kept her airways clear and started casualty care before paramedics arrived. Thankfully she did come round, but was taken to hospital for further checks.’

With around 1500 people on the beach at Bantham yesterday, lifeguards worked hard to keep everyone safe, including providing assistance to ensure water users stayed within the safe bathing areas between the red and yellow flags.

The RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign is running throughout the summer. To find out more about the dangers of the coast and how to stay safe, visit www.rnli.org/respectthewater or search #RespectTheWater on social media.

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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