Off-duty RNLI lifeguard and Padstow lifeboat crew member rescue body boarder
Off duty lifeguard Dan Wickins and off duty lifeboat crew member James Swabey from Padstow Lifeboat Station were surfing Trevone Bay on Thursday (1 June) evening when they went to the aid of a man in difficulty.
RNLI Lifeguard Dan Wickins said: ‘We noticed a body boarder stuck far out in a rip current just after 7pm. He was getting washed towards the rocks by large waves. The man was in difficulty and struggling to keep his head above the water. James and I were able to assist him away from the rocks and back to the shore. We carried out relevant checks on the casualty as we had some concerns about secondary drowning. Once we were happy with the casualty’s condition we walked him back to his family on the beach.’
The RNLI advises members of the public who see anyone in trouble in the sea to alert the lifeguards or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor for Padstow, Max Setti, added: ‘The majority of RNLI lifeguard incidents in the UK involve rip currents. If you find yourself caught in a rip current it’s important not to try and swim against it or you’ll get exhausted. The RNLI’s advice is if you can stand, wade don’t swim and if you can’t wade to swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip current and then head for shore. It’s important to raise your hand when you can to shout for help.’
Daily lifeguard patrols (10am until 6pm) started at Trevone Bay on 20 May and will continue until 1 October.
Note to editors
Picture and caption attached. Please credit RNLI
RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact Press Officer Carrie Garrad – carrie_garrad@rnli.org.uk / 07786668847.
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press
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 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.