Five young children rescued by RNLI lifeguards at Prestatyn

Lifeguards responded to two separate incidents on Friday (26 August) where groups of young children got into difficulty near rocks on an incoming tide.

The first incident happened at about 3pm and involved three children who were jumping into the water about 20m out off the rock groyne close to the red and yellow flagged swimming area.

As the tide came in the water they were jumping into got deeper and the three boys, who were all younger than 12 years old, were soon out of their depth and struggling to return to shore.

RNLI lifeguard Anastasios Lamprou immediately swam out to the three with a rescue tube and as he arrived one of the children was in particular difficulty and was moments from going under the water. He was able to pick up and carry all three children back to the safety of the beach in one trip.

Then minutes later another group of young children – this time a girl and a boy both under 12 – got into trouble on the same section of rocks. This time the children were swimming on the beach and ended up in the area of the rock groyne.

RNLI lifeguard Methan Ratnakumar noticed the children were drifting further towards the back of the rocks and were struggling so he entered the water with a rescue tube. Methan quickly reached the two children and swam them back to the beach.

Rhyl RNLI inshore lifeboat was also tasked to the incident but shortly after the volunteer crew launched minutes later word was received that the children had been rescued by the lifeguard and the boat was stood down to return the the lifeboat station.

Matt Jessop, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, said: ‘These incidents highlight the importance of always swimming in the red and yellow flagged area, which is the area of the beach identified by our fully trained lifeguards as the safest place to bathe.’

RNLI lifeguards will be providing a daily safety service on Rhyl and Prestatyn beaches until the end of the season on Sunday (4 September).

Notes to editors:

The attached pictures show RNLI lifeguard Anastasios Lamprou. Credit RNLI

Media contacts:

For more information please contact Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265 496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [email protected].

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