Two rip current rescues for Perranporth RNLI lifeguards

At around 12pm yesterday afternoon, lifeguards spotted a bodyboarder who was out of his depth and struggling in the current just outside the red and yellow flags.

RNLI lifeguard Tom McRitchie immediately paddled out on his rescue board to assist. Tom helped the casualty onto the rescue board and assisted him back to shore.

Shortly after, at around 1:15pm, lifeguards noticed two people, beyond the breaking waves at about 75m out, struggling in another rip current.

RNLI lifeguards Rachel Crabb and Max Lawrence launched their inshore rescue boat (IRB) into the 2-3ft surf to go and investigate. Having reached the casualties, the lifeguards helped the two women into the IRB and brought them back to safety ashore.

The casualty said:

‘When my friend and I realised we had drifted out too far, we signalled for help. We are very grateful to the lifeguards who came to help us – they do a great job and were very nice.’

Drustan Ward, RNLI lifeguard supervisor, said:

‘The conditions down at the beach were great yesterday. All three casualties were doing the correct thing by swimming between the red and yellow flags.

The bodyboarder, having realised he was in trouble, used his board as a flotation device to hang onto until the lifeguards reached him. When the swimmers realised they were out of their depth, they waved one hand to signal that they were in trouble.

Because all three casualties were at a lifeguarded beach, the lifeguards had spotted they were in trouble before they’d realised it themselves and could assist them straight away. We encourage everyone visits a lifeguarded beach especially with the warm weather forecast for the weekend. With peak season starting on Saturday 7 July, all beaches covered by RNLI lifeguards will now be patrolled.’

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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