Off-duty Southwold RNLI lifeguards rescue injured swimmer

At around 8:45am, RNLI Southwold lifeguards Ella Tolliday, Owen Webster and Callum Swatman arrived at the beach to undertake some training before work. The trio were practicing on the rescue boards near the water’s edge when they noticed a man 50m away waving.

Callum instantly paddled over to the man, who began shouting for help, whilst Ella and Owen returned to the lifeguard unit to grab rescue tubes. The duo went to support Callum, who had assisted the injured man onto his rescue board.

Owen immediately called the Coastguard and requested a medical responder bag as the casualty had dislocated his shoulder. The lifeguard team suspected the injury came as a result of the massive shore dump and strong waves brought with the grey weather.

The charity’s lifeguards carefully assisted the man back to shore where he received casualty care. The man felt increasingly faint and the Coastguard shortly arrived to help the RNLI Southwold team keep the casualty in as little pain as possible.

Fellow Southwold lifeguards Arna Tolliday and Jamie Goodhead arrived just before 10am to begin their shift for the day. The on-duty lifeguards helped their fellow colleagues with ensuring the man was as comfortable as possible before the ambulance arrived.

Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan praised his off-duty lifeguard team: ‘Our lifeguards are well trained in casualty care so that they can provide essential treatment whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

'It was great that the man chose to visit a lifeguarded beach. However, we advise people to only swim during our lifeguard operating hours which are 10am to 6pm. That way one of our lifeguards will certainly be around to assist you as soon as you find yourself in trouble.’

For more information please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety

Notes to editors

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

https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches/southwold-south-beach

Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan is available for interview.

Photo Credit

RNLI/Derry Salter

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