
RNLI lifeguards rescue two watersports beginners
RNLI lifeguards rescued two watersports beginners at beaches in Cornwall today as seasonal RNLI lifeguard service resumed at a number of beaches in the county this weekend.
RNLI Lifeguards, on the first day of summer patrols at Gyllyngvase beach, came to the aid of a stand-up paddleboarder today when he got into difficulty in strong winds. Lifeguard Hugo Newington-Smith was patrolling the water’s edge when he noticed a paddleboarder drifting towards the reef and alerted fellow team member Matthew Stone. Matthew, who responded quickly and reached the casualty with his rescue board. He then assisted the learner paddleboarder safely back to shore.
Matthew Stone, RNLI lifeguard and chairman of Gyllyngvase Surf Lifesaving Club, said: ‘Whether you are local to Cornwall, or visiting on holiday, we’d urge beachgoers to head to an RNLI lifeguarded beach and to swim in the supervised area between the red and yellow flags. If you are trying out watersports for the first time we recommend seeking advice from the lifeguards on the wind and sea conditions before entering the water.’
An RNLI lifeguard at Perranporth beach also rescued a man in difficulty when he got caught out by rip currents today. A male adult bodyboarder drifted north of the area marked by red and yellow flags around 1pm on Saturday where strong rip currents were pulling to the south. Lifeguard Georgia Maughn assisted the novice bodyboarder, who was unable to get back to shore on his own, by helping him onto her rescue board and paddling him to safety.
Georgia Maughn, RNLI lifeguard, said: ‘If you find yourself in trouble in the water please raise your hand and call for help. If you see someone else in trouble, tell a lifeguard, or if you can’t see a lifeguard, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. It is very important that you don’t try and attempt the rescue yourself – the situation could easily turn and you could find yourself in difficulty too. RNLI lifeguards are all highly trained and will come to your assistance.’
A list of RNLI lifeguarded beaches is available on RNLI.org
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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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