Mablethorpe lifeguards rescue brother and sister

On Saturday 7 August, Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Arun Gray noticed two teenagers swimming near the rocks at Mablethorpe beach. He radioed his fellow lifeguard Henry Houlden, to warn the swimmers of the dangers of the rocks and help them swim away from the area.

However, during patrols at around 4pm, Henry noticed a rip current had appeared near the rocks, sweeping the brother and sister past the rocks and out to sea.

Both remained calm and waited for Henry to rescue them.

The lifeguard quickly entered the water with a rescue tube, where he helped to support the 13-year-old boy. The boy’s older sister had managed to swim out and around the rip and back to shore by herself. Henry guided the teenager back to shore, where he was reunited with his sister.

Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Arun Gray congratulated the two siblings for their actions during the incident:

‘Rip currents are both unpredictable and dangerous. The two teenagers remained calm and waited for help whilst following our Float to Live advice. They didn’t try and swim against the current; instead, the older sister swam around it.

It is essential that you choose to visit a lifeguarded beach this summer. As soon as the duo were in trouble, one of our lifeguards was on hand to help.’

If you find yourself swept out to sea at one of our lifeguarded beaches, stay calm and follow the RNLI’s Float to Live advice:

· Fight your instinct the thrash around

· Lean back, extend your arms and legs

· If you need to gently move them around to help you float

· Float until you can control your breathing

· Only then call for help or swim to safety

For more safety advice about getting stuck in a rip current, please visit: Be Safe on the Beach this Summer with the RNLI | Float to Live

Notes to editors

RNLI Mablethorpe lifeguard service has been operating since 2001. To learn more about the lifeguarded beach go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches/mablethorpe-beach

Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Arun Gray is available for interview.

Photo Credit

RNLI/Derry Salter

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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 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 142,700 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.

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