Off duty RNLI lifeguard helps to save collapsed tourist at Teignmouth beach
Senior RNLI lifeguard Henry Irvine was off duty and cycling down to Teignmouth beach for swim training at 7am on Wednesday 16 August when he was asked to respond to a man who had collapsed while running along the beach.
The man, a US tourist in his 40s, had been out for a morning run at the beach when he collapsed and was found by other runners nearby. As Henry was cycling towards the beach, the runners recognised him as a lifeguard and approached him for help. He immediately made his way to the lifeguard unit, grabbed the first responder bag and cycled along the sea wall to the casualty’s location.
Upon Henry’s arrival an off duty doctor was already performing CPR on the casualty. Henry used the defibrillator to great effect to make the casualty responsive. He administered oxygen and carried out casualty care checks while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
When the paramedics arrived the man was talking and had begun to recover. He was then taken to hospital for further treatment, where he is now recovering well.
RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager Nigel Jones said: ‘Henry acted quickly and used his medical skills to deliver a positive outcome for the gentleman involved. We are very proud of the professionalism that he displayed; he is a true credit to the RNLI and its lifeguarding service.’
Notes to editors
- Interviews available with Senior Lifeguard Henry Irvine.
- Teignmouth beach is patrolled by RNLI lifeguards from 10am-6pm until 3 September.
The enclosed photos show:
- Senior Lifeguard Henry Irvine at the beach with the casualty care pack. Please credit RNLI/Henry Irvine.
- Senior Lifeguard Henry Irvine reunited with the casualty who is recovering well in hospital. Please credit RNLI/Henry Irvine.
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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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