RNLI Mablethorpe lifeguard rescues three children
On Friday 13 August, lifeguard Lois Kemp rescued three children who were swept out to sea on a toy inflatable.
At around 4pm, Mablethorpe lifeguard Lois Kemp spotted a group of children going into the sea with an inflatable and went to warn them of the dangers. However, the strong offshore winds immediately swept them out to sea.
When Lois reached the water's edge on the team quadbike, the children’s parents were on the shoreline dialling 999 for the Coastguard. At the same time, fellow RNLI lifeguard Eloise Burke remained at the lifeguard unit and requested support from the Coastguard, who paged the Mablethorpe lifeboat.
Lois immediately entered the water with a rescue tube and swam towards the three children who were over 400m offshore. The charity’s lifeguard towed all three children back to shore in the inflatable. The Mablethorpe lifeboat crew were no longer needed as Lois had returned all three children safely before the lifeboat had launched.
Once ashore, the children were reunited with their parents and underwent a series of medical checks. Luckily, none sustained any injuries.
Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Arun Gray praised the children and their parents for visiting a lifeguarded beach: ‘It was brilliant that the families chose to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags; our lifeguards were immediately on hand as soon as they found themselves in difficulty.
'When visiting an RNLI lifeguarded beach this summer, it is advised that toy inflatables are not used in the water, with the wind easily drifting them out to sea.’
For more information please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety
Notes to editors
RNLI Mablethorpe 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.
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 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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