Fistral RNLI lifeguards rescue 16 surfers and bodyboarders caught in strong rip

RNLI lifeguard Liv Harwood was the first to respond and headed straight to the casualties on her rescue board. Once Liv began to help the first few casualties onto her board, she called for some assistance from the rest of the team as she could see more people were being pulled into the path of the current.

Lifeguard Ben Temme quickly paddled over on a rescue board, whilst lifeguard Stuart Weatherly was on the rescue water craft (RWC) helping to pick people up and bring them back to safety.

The conditions on Fistral were sunny with 2-4ft surf and lots of people in the sea. At the time of the incident the team already had three lifeguards patrolling on rescue boards in the water in preparation for any sudden change, Arron Evans, senior lifeguard at Fistral, explains how the rip current became very powerful:

‘At the moment on Fistral there is a deep trench that runs across the middle of the beach. The big tides combined with today’s surf conditions meant that when the tide was going out, a really strong rip current started to pull out to sea.

Whilst Liv, Ben and Stuart were helping surfers who’d been pulled out to sea from the black and white flags (surf zone), lifeguard George Murphy was assisting some bodyboarders who were drifting away from the red and yellow flags towards the rip and making sure all the swimmers were safe.’

Earlier in the day at 12.15pm, lifeguard Lesley Dawson was on a board patrol in the water when she responded to a rescue and assist of three male surfers caught out in a rip current and struggling to return to shore. In total the RNLI lifeguard team at Fistral came to the aid of 19 people caught in powerful rip currents within a couple of hours.

Arron continued saying,

‘Today has proven just how powerful rip currents can be, and how quickly you could find yourself caught out by one. That’s why it's so important to head to a lifeguarded beach and swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags, or surf between the black and white flags.

As lifeguards we have the local knowledge of rip currents for the beaches we work on and always prepare according to the conditions of the day. Our lifeguards were ready to respond when needed today, as well as warning people of the dangers before they enter the water.’

If you ever find yourself caught in a rip current, try to remember the following key safety advice:

• Don’t try to swim against it, you will quickly get exhausted

• If you can stand, wade don’t swim

• If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore

• If you can’t swim – FLOAT to live by leaning back in the water, extending your arms and legs, and resisting the urge to thrash around to gain control of your breathing

• Always raise your hand and shout for help

• If you see anyone else in trouble, alert the lifeguards or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

Notes to editors

· Please find attached an image of Fistral RNLI lifeguard team, credit: Fistral RNLI

· Follow the link to see which beaches are currently lifeguarded https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/beaches-with-lifeguards-on-patrol

· To support the RNLI’s lifesavers, go to: www.rnli.org/donate

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Media Engagement Placement (south west) on [email protected] or 07902 975993, or Amy Caldwell, Regional Media Manager on 07920 818807 or [email protected]. Alternatively, please contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [email protected].

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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.