Off duty RNLI lifeguards rescue woman and toddler from quick sand
A team of RNLI Lifeguards who were setting up their base equipment ready for the summer season, rescued a woman and toddler from quicksand yesterday (12 June).
The team of lifeguards were busy setting up for the summer season on Ogmore beach when a member of the public approached them with concern for a woman and toddler stuck in sand.
When the lifeguards arrived at the location they found the lady and small toddler stuck up to their knees in sand. The team called the Coastguard for help, but with a fast incoming tide approaching the casualties, the lifeguard supervisor took the decision to use a rescue board to make a bridge across the soft sand to reach them. The toddler was passed over to the lifeguards first, and the lady was then able to free herself pulling on the rescue board and then crawled across it to safety.
Coastguard teams and the South Wales Fire Service arrived soon afterwards and helped to check the casualties over.
Matt Childs, RNLI Lifeguards Supervisor said:
'This was an interesting incident for us, with the area not known for soft sand and the fact that were weren't actually on duty at the time. The team worked well and rescued the casualties using kit they had at their disposal. We would always suggest that if your heading out to the coast, always carry a means of calling for help, even if you are not planning on going into the water. If you do get into trouble on the coast, call 999 and ask for he Coastguard'.
The RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling Ogmore Beach form the 30 June.
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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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