RNLI Southwold lifeguards assist in major first-aid incident
On Saturday 24 July, RNLI lifeguards at Southwold North and South teamed up during a first-aid incident before the air ambulance arrived.
At around 1:30pm, RNLI Southwold South lifeguards were alerted by a member of the public that a man in his 30s had collapsed on the beach. When two of the charity’s lifeguards, Nicko Moore and Callum Swatman, arrived at the scene, which was directly between the two Southwold lifeguard bases, the casualty was having a seizure.
A friend of the casualty had already dialled 999 for an ambulance. In the meantime, the Southwold South team gave the casualty vital first-aid after assessing that he was unresponsive.
Immediately, the Southwold North RNLI team were radioed and lifeguard Ella Tolliday arrived with a responder bag. The two RNLI lifeguard teams put the casualty in the recovery position where he was administered oxygen.
Shortly after, two ambulances arrived to take over the first-aid, so the Southwold RNLI began to keep the public away from the incident. However, after the casualty’s conditioned worsened, an air ambulance was called.
RNLI Southwold North and South began to create a perimeter for the air ambulance to land. They assisted in the evacuation of the man, who was put on the UK Coastguard’s spinal board. The casualty remains in a stable condition.
RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan congratulated RNLI Southwold’s first-aid efforts: ‘Our lifeguards are excellently trained in casualty care so that they can provide lifesaving treatment on the beaches.
'We urge people to visit a lifeguarded beach this summer, as our lifeguards will often be the first on the scene if an incident occurs. Their first-aid experience is vital when waiting for an ambulance to arrive.'
Please visit an RNLI lifeguarded beach this summer and dial 999 for the Coastguard if you find yourself in any trouble.
For more safety information, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety
Notes to editors
RNLI Southwold North and South lifeguard service has been operating since 2001. To learn more about the lifeguarded beaches go to:
Southwold North Beach - Lifeguarded beaches (rnli.org)
Southwold South Beach - Lifeguarded beaches (rnli.org)
Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan 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 142,700 lives.
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