RNLI lifeguards give medical care to teens at Lowestoft

At 5:50pm, lifeguard Steven Foulkes and Water Safety Lead Nick Ayers, who was out running, found a teenage girl slumped against a wall near the South Pier – an area locals refer to as ‘Children’s Corner’.

After speaking to the casualty’s friends, the team of two discovered that earlier in the evening she was dragged out of the water. The pair carried out a series of medical checks before putting the casualty into the recovery position and calling an ambulance.

Lifeguard Steven Foulkes was kept busy after a further incident concerning another casualty occurred just metres away. A member of the public alerted the lifeguard team that they had pulled a teenage girl out of the water after growing increasingly concerned. Again, the RNLI lifeguard performed essential medical checks on the casualty, who remained unharmed.

Nick Ayers remained with the first casualty after instructing one of the witnesses to alert the lifeguard at the RNLI hut a further 800m down the beach. Experienced lifeguard Daniel Bedwell arrived at the scene with their responder kit, with the ambulance arriving minutes later.

Shortly after, police officers arrived at the scene after the casualty’s friends had originally called for their help.

Water Safety Lead Nick Ayers congratulated the medical skills of the RNLI Lowestoft lifeguard team, but stressed the importance of contacting the Coastguard when an incident happens at the beach:

‘Both casualties were unharmed. However, we advise witnesses to any incidents at one of our lifeguarded beaches to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard immediately. That way our lifeguards will quickly be on the scene to help.’

Notes to editors

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

Water Safety Lead Nick Ayers is available for interview.

Photo Credit

RNLI/Kate Driver.

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