Exmouth RNLI rescues teenage swimmer in difficulty
Exmouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat George Bearman II launched during the evening of Thursday 25 July 2019 following a report by a member of the public that a swimmer was in difficulties off Exmouth seafront.
At about 7:10pm volunteer Crew members at the Lifeboat Station in Queens Drive, Exmouth were alerted to a male teenage swimmer in difficulties about 200 metres off the coast. The lone youngster, who came from the East Midlands, appeared to be struggling against the tide.
The Exmouth Inshore Lifeboat George Bearman II was launched immediately and rescued the young man who was bought to shore within a few minutes. He appeared uninjured but crew and ambulance personnel administered casualty care at the station.
Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat Helm, Harry Griffin, who led the rescue, said “This young man was very lucky, he had swum out over 200 yards and got caught in a strong tide. It is so important that swimmers know the local area and are aware of the dangers of extreme currents. On this occasion a member of the public reported the incident at the boathouse but it should be remembered that our station isn’t manned round the clock and any emergencies should always be reported via 999 or 112 to the Coastguard.”
RNLI offer key safety advice through its ‘Respect The Water’ campaign that advises swimmers to:
- always swim between the red and yellow flags on a lifeguarded beach
- never swim alone
- always swim parallel to the shore and not straight out
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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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.