Joint rescue by Rhyl RNLI lifeguards and lifeboat crews in Rhyl harbour entrance
Two young girls were seen clinging to a channel marker post at the entrance to Rhyl harbour. This was reported to the RNLI lifeguards who immediately sped to the scene and swam to the girls, as the inshore lifeboat crew were paged.
The lifeguards located the children and managed to reassure the two girls, holding on to them and the channel post until the inshore lifeboat arrived. By that time, the girls were up to their waists in the rapidly-rising tide.
All four were taken on board the inshore lifeboat, and the volunteer crew immediately headed back to the lifeboat station at Rhyl. They were kept warm and their condition monitored as local coastguards, police and ambulance crews arrived. The lifeguards who were first on scene were also treated for minor cuts, occurring when they scrambled on the rocks to get at the girls.
After a check up by the ambulance crew, the girls were allowed to go home with their mother, who had arrived at the station just after the lifeboat returned.
Paul Frost, acting Coxswain for Rhyl RNLI says ' The RNLI lifeguards did a fantastic job in getting to the children quickly, and keeping them calm until the lifeboat arrived. The children also took notice of a recent RNLI visit to their school on beach safety and rightly went to the post to hold on'.
(Pictures are not available of the actual rescue. The attached picture is from the station after the emergency services arrived). The girls are to remain anonymous at the parents' request.
Key facts about the RNLI
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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