RNLI lifeguards rescue seven people from rip current

At 2:30pm on Thursday, RNLI lifeguard Tom McRitchie rescued two swimmers, two surfers and a bodyboarder who were caught in a sudden rip current as the tide was coming in. The five casualties had drifted out of the flagged areas on the beach and were being pushed out to sea by the sudden rip current. Tom immediately paddled over to them using a rescue board, rescuing two casualties and assisting the other three.

Later in the day at 4:30pm, Tom and his colleague Max Lawrence spotted a body boarder caught in a similar rip current. He had drifted out of the red and yellow flagged area and was struggling in the 1m surf. They immediately launched their inshore rescue boat (IRB) and helped the casualty back to shore.

On the same day at nearby Holywell Beach, RNLI lifeguards Adam Taylor and Jago Griffiths were carrying out patrols in their IRB around the red and yellow flagged area when they spotted a bodyboarder caught in a rip current. They immediately went over to assist and, seeing that the casualty had been pulled out of his depth, helped him into the IRB and back to safety ashore.

Drustan Ward, RNLI lifeguard supervisor for the area, said:

‘At the beaches in our area, certain stages of the tide causes more rip currents. At Perran Sands and Holywell especially we have been seeing more rip currents occur at high tide.

The best way to avoid being caught in a rip current is to always swim between the red and yellow flags as this marks the safest swimming area on the beach. If in any doubt, please do not hesitate to ask the lifeguards on duty for any advice or local information.’

Notes to Editor

• RNLI lifeguards patrol over 249 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands

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