Newbie RNLI North Bay lifeguard carries out mass rescue

Following a spell of sunny weather, RNLI Scarborough North Bay faced a busy weekend at the beach with the weather prime for surfing. On Sunday 20 June, a flash rip occurred just outside of the black and white flags, a zone designated for surfing, paddle-boarding and kayaking.

Rookie RNLI Lifeguard Carolina Clements was alerted to six adults who had been swept out to sea by the strong current. The casualties consisted of three swimmers and three surfers.

Carolina, who has only been with the charity for one month, paddled out to the rip on a rescue board whilst the casualties floated in the water. She then coached all six casualties on how to safely get out of the rip by swimming parallel to the shore, as to not exhaust themselves.

Although the RNLI Scarborough North Bay lifeguard team was on hand, newcomer Carolina remained in the water and carried out the mass rescue alone. After three of the casualties escaped the rip, the charity’s lifeguard aided the others on her rescue board.

Once ashore, the casualties were taken to the Lifeguard Unit where they received after care and medical attention. Although all casualties experienced shock, all remained uninjured.

Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor Tom Pratt congratulated both Carolina and the casualties’ efforts in the incident:

‘It was essential that the six adults stuck in the rip raised their hands and shouted for help. Because they were at a lifeguarded beach, their actions alerted our team right away.

'Carolina acted quickly and calmly. The casualties’ cooperation with Carolina by listening to her advice to float instead of swim against the current made this mass rescue possible.’

If you find yourself caught in a rip current when visiting the RNLI's lifeguarded beaches, stay calm and float to live. For more information visit:

https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety

Notes to editors

Scarborough North Bay Lifeguards have been operating since 2001. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches

Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor Tom Pratt is available for interview.

Photo Credit

RNLI/Nathan Williams

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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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