RNLI lifeguards rescue mother and daughter from strong rip current at Porthtowan

Lifeguards spotted the pair being dragged out to sea during a final check on the beach as they prepared to finish patrols.

At 6.20pm lifeguards noticed the girl had left her bodyboard behind and was attempting to swim back to shore with her mother. The pair were caught in a strong rip current which was taking them further out to sea.

Senior RNLI lifeguard, Mark Evans, and lifeguard Jamie Ward grabbed the rescue boards from the patrol truck and paddled out to the pair.

Drustan Ward, RNLI lifeguard supervisor, said: ‘When the lifeguards reached the mother and daughter they were panicking and were both struggling to keep their heads above the water.
‘As it was after patrol hours, it was very fortunate that the lifeguards were still at the beach and were able to safely bring both casualties back to the shore.

‘Rip currents can drag you out to sea very quickly, so it is important to respect the water. We would encourage people to use lifeguarded beaches where safe swimming areas are marked out between the red and yellow flags.’

RNLI lifeguards also rescued a swimmer in difficulty at Holywell Bay yesterday (Thursday 2 June). After spotting the woman struggling to make it back to the shore, lifeguards launched the inshore rescue boat to bring her safely back to the beach.

Earlier in the week, RNLI lifeguards at Praa Sands launched the inshore rescue boat to help three kayakers who got into difficulty in strong offshore winds. The family were struggling to get back to the shore when lifeguards picked them up.

Lifeguard patrols run from 10am-6pm daily. To find your nearest lifeguarded beach and for more safety advice www.rnli.org.uk/beachsafe.

Notes to editors
• Footage of the rescue at Holywell Bay can be downloaded here: http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=w18peYFV

• Footage of three kayakers being rescued at Praa Sands can be downloaded here: http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=ASeM3oC6

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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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