RNLI lifeguard at Exmouth rescues windsurfer taken out by the tide
RNLI lifeguard Dom Brown rescued a young windsurfer off Exmouth beach yesterday afternoon who was taken out by the tide and in difficulty in the challenging conditions.
At around 1pm yesterday at Exmouth beach, the father of a young windsurfer alerted the lifeguards that his son was in difficulty in the water. The casualty had been taken out by the ebbing tide and was unable to get back to safety.
RNLI lifeguard Dom Brown launched the rescue watercraft (RWC) and located the casualty. Dom guided the casualty to hold on to the sled of the RWC, and brought him back to shore.
Once the casualty was safely ashore, RNLI lifeguard Connor Gray then joined Dom as crew on the RWC to locate the windsurfer’s kit. The Coastguard requested the launch of Exmouth RNLI’s inshore lifeboat to recover the kit, which was drifting out to sea in the surf. The lifeguards remained with the kit until the inshore lifeboat crew were on scene and able to recover it.
Henry Irvine, Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for the area, said:
‘Lifeguard Dom Brown did a great job yesterday, quickly responding to and rescuing the casualty in challenging conditions.
‘We are experiencing some dangerous sea conditions at the moment and Exmouth seafront is not a good place for beginner windsurfers at the best of times.
‘The RNLI is advising anyone heading to the coast to make sure they are going to a lifeguarded beach and heed the lifeguards’ advice. If you see a red flag at a lifeguarded beach, do not enter the water, as it is unsafe for any water activities. If there are no flags, there are no lifeguards.’
Notes to editors
· Footage of the rescue is available to download above
· Find your nearest lifeguarded beach: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/beaches-with-lifeguards-on-patrol
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