Busy weekend for RNLI lifeguards of South Shields beaches
RNLI lifeguards of South Shields’ beaches had a busy weekend, assisting three children cut off by the tide from Mowbray Beach in two separate call outs, and providing first aid to a 90-year-old woman who had fallen near Sandhaven Beach.
On Sunday afternoon (15 July), RNLI lifeguard, Jake Wood, and Lifeguard Supervisor, Sean Mills, were patrolling on the rescue boat as the tide was coming in when they noticed two children at risk of being cut off by the rising tide.
When the charity’s lifeguards saw the children were out of their depth, they launched towards them, brought them onto boat and back to the beach safely. Later in the afternoon, another child found themselves in the same situation and needed the assistance of the lifeguards.
Meanwhile, Sandhaven RNLI lifeguards were busy taking care of a 90-year-old woman who had fallen and broken her hip. Members of the public were able to help the woman onto a nearby bench until the lifeguards arrived.
The first aid-trained lifeguards made sure the lady was comfortable until an ambulance arrived to provide medical assistance.
RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Sean Mills said: ‘To prevent people getting into difficulty, we would encourage swimmers to stay between the red and yellow flags and to ask us for more information about tide times.
‘It’s fortunate that these incidents have taken place at a lifeguarded beach as we can immediately assist in the event of an emergency and provide casualty care.
‘We urge anyone visiting the coast throughout the summer to visit a lifeguarded beach, as we are there to keep everyone safe and to offer safety advice.’
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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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