Lowestoft RNLI lifeguards rescue woman unconscious after seizure in water
RNLI Lifeguards at Lowestoft’s South Beach rescued a young woman who had suffered a seizure and fell unconscious in the water.
On Saturday 11 August at around 3pm, the 22-year-old woman started to panic as she struggled to swim back to the shore, and as a result of an increased heart rate, she suffered a seizure and blacked out in the water.
In the moments before falling unconscious, the female casualty was able to signal for help and her best friend simultaneously raised the alarm to the lifeguards.
RNLI Community Safety Partner and Senior Lifeguard, Nick Ayers, was patrolling the shoreline when he spotted the distress signal and immediately grabbed a rescue board to save the woman who was 50m out to sea and drifting closer to Claremont Pier.
Upon arrival, Nick noticed the casualty was face down in the water and after supporting her onto his board, towed her back to the shore. They were met by RNLI Lifeguard Daniel Bedwell with the first aid equipment as a second lifeguard, Natasha Mills, coordinated with the ambulance which was on scene within 10 minutes.
RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, Liam Fayle-Parr said: ‘I’m so incredibly proud of our lifeguard service. The composure and professionalism displayed in such a high pressure situation is remarkable. The training and equipment provided by the charity prepares us so well for these emergency situations.
‘I’d also like to thank the young woman for choosing to swim at a lifeguarded beach and between our red and yellow flags, as this meant the lifeguards were able to get to her as quickly as they could and back to safety.’
The next day the woman visited the lifeguards at Lowestoft Beach to show her appreciation: ‘Thank you so much for your amazing hard work. You saved my life – you are truly heroes.’
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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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