RNLI Southwold lifeguards assist HM Coastguard and RNLI Southwold
On Saturday 9 July, RNLI Southwold lifeguards responded to a shout from HM Coastguard, and were then assisted by RNLI Southwold lifeboat crew.
RNLI Southwold lifeguards received a call from HM Coastguard in relation to a stranded paddleboarder. The man had been paddling in the harbour from Walberswick beach at around 12:15pm. The strong winds and tide quickly washed the paddleboarder out to sea, where a member of the public saw him struggling and contacted the Coastguard.
Lifeguard Owen Webster responded to the Coastguard’s call and went to the harbourside of Southwold beach. He used binoculars to observe the paddleboarder to see if he was in any danger. The lifeguard quickly realised the paddleboarder was struggling against the tide and kept falling off his board.
After assessing that the casualty was over a mile away from shore, the Southwold lifeguards phoned RNLI Southwold for assistance. RNLI Southwold quickly launched a lifeboat who returned the paddleboarder to shore.
The paddleboarder was flustered but in a good condition and no medical checks were required.
Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan praised the member of the public for alerting the Coastguard: ‘It was great that HM Coastguard were immediately phoned as soon as the paddleboarder got in to trouble. That way our lifeguard team was quickly alerted and able to assess the situation, which RNLI Southwold then responded to.
If you find yourself or anyone else in trouble in and around the water when visiting a lifeguarded beach, please dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’
For more information on how to stay safe this summer, please visit: RNLI Beach Safety – Top Five Tips To Stay Safe By The Sea
Notes to editors
RNLI Southwold lifeguard service has been operating since 2001. To learn more about the lifeguarded beach go to: Southwold North Beach - Lifeguarded beaches (rnli.org)
Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan is available for interview.
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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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