RNLI lifeguards respond to two major first aid incidents on Perranporth beaches

At around 5.15pm on Friday 12 July, members of the public alerted RNLI lifeguards to a 14-year-old girl who had cut her knee after falling from Chapel Rock. Lifeguard Cameron Lambie was the first on the scene and began primary checks whilst the casualty’s mother held her head. His colleague Rory Tellam delivered the crash bag on an All-Terrain Vehicle. Cameron dressed the wound and checked the casualty’s breathing and found that she was going into hyperventilation so administered oxygen which allowed her breathing to stabilise.

While awaiting the arrival of paramedics, lifeguard Mali Taylor held the casualty’s head and the team closely monitored her condition, applying a blanket for warmth. Devon Air Ambulance was tasked and transferred the casualty to Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske.

On Sunday afternoon there was another major first aid incident, this time involving a paraglider at Perran Sands. RNLI lifeguards Tom Cutmore and Luke Simmonds were monitoring the flagged areas when multiple people alerted them to the incident.

RNLI lifeguard Rory Tellam was the first on the scene, finding a 48-year-old male who was in a lot of pain after his paraglider had crashed into the cliff top and fell down to base of the cliff. Harry Llewelyn drove down on the ATV bringing the crash bag, and Luke ran to the incident from the flags. Lifeguard supervisor Ben Gardiner and lifeguard Sam Biddle came over from Perranporth in the inshore rescue boat (IRB) to assist.

A land ambulance and Cornwall Air Ambulance were tasked to the scene as the casualty had a suspected spinal injury. In the meantime, lifeguards administered oxygen and cleared an area on the beach for the helicopter landing. When paramedics arrived, they administered painkillers and the casualty was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske.

Ben Gardiner, RNLI lifeguard supervisor, said:

‘I am really proud of the team, on Friday the lifeguards stayed back until almost 7pm until the Air Ambulance left and then we got all the kit back in order.

‘Then there was another first aid incident on Sunday, with the tide coming in the beach was running out, but the team worked really well and we were able to get the casualty onboard the helicopter before this became an issue.’

Notes to editors

Attached photos:

• Cornwall Air Ambulance at Perran Sands beach
• Lifeguards loading the casualty into Devon Air Ambulance at Perranporth beach
• RNLI lifeguards Cameron Lambie and Mali Taylor
• RNLI lifeguard Rory Tellam

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Marianne Quinn, RNLI Media Engagement Placement at [email protected] or Amy Caldwell, Regional Media Manager on 07920 818 807 [email protected].

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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 over 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 142,200 lives.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.