RNLI award for quick thinking young lifesaver

This week Brooke and her family met the crew of St. Agnes Lifeboat at the station, where Lifeboat Operations Manager, Paul Kimberley, handed over a Certificate and Statuette, from the RNLI Chief Executive.

Paul stated: 'Brooke thoroughly deserves this award. If it had not been for her decisive action, the incident might have ended very differently. But thanks to the quick thinking of this young lady and the combined efforts of an RNLI Lifeguard and Lifeboat crew, two lives were saved.'

Brooke, who has been training in life saving techniques since she was just 7, believes it was her experience at St. Agnes Surf Life Saving Club that helped her spot the boys were in difficulty.

She spotted the boys being dragged out to sea and her life saving training kicked in. The teenage boys were caught in a notorious rip current off Trevaunance Cove. Brooke quickly alerted her father, Steve, who is a trained and experienced RNLI Lifeguard and Manager. He alerted the RNLI Lifeboat Team, and then he entered the water, with a rescue board, to make his way to the casualties.

The St. Agnes RNLI Lifeboat was launched and proceeded towards Steve and the casualties to assist. Two boys were recovered into the Lifeboat, and taken back to the shore, shaken and cold but otherwise unharmed, and Steve paddled back in.

Due to the quick thinking and actions of Brooke, these two swimmers were successfully rescued, and the RNLI is very pleased to be able to recognise her lifesaving actions.

A rip current occurs when water brought onto shore as surf runs back out to sea like an invisible river. They can be hard to spot. If you get caught in a rip current the RNLI advises “Float to Survive”. This means you should fight your instincts to swim against the current. Instead, do not panic, float on your back and if possible, wave your arm and shout to attract attention. You may be able to swim out of the rip by heading parallel to the shore. If in doubt, remain calm, get your breathing under control, float on your back and wave your arm to attract help.

Link to Original Rescue, press release: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2018/may/12/st-agnes-rnli-lifeboat-launches-to-the-aid-of-two-swimmers-in-difficulty

For more information on rip currents and water safety, visit the RNLI website and remember to check local safety signs and information before you enter the water. https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/rip-currents

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Paul Kimberley, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07867160594 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Credit: Tom Knight, Apprentice RNLI Volunteer Press Officer.

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.