RNLI Gorleston lifeboat and lifeguard assist stranded bodyboarder

At 1:50pm, Lifeguard Supervisor Sam Every was undertaking a patrol on Gorleston beach when he noticed a bodyboarder swimming out to sea.

Sam continued to monitor the man due to the strong offshore winds at the beach that day. When the bodyboarder struggled to paddle back to shore, the charity’s lifeguard immediately entered the water with a rescue board.

When Sam reached the bodyboarder, he was relaxed but exhausted fighting against the wind. The Lifeguard Supervisor tried to assist the casualty onto the rescue board, but struggled against the strong winds, so radioed back to the lifeguard unit.

Fellow lifeguard Melina Berwood contacted the Coastguard, who radioed RNLI Gorleston.

The lifeguard and casualty attempted to swim to the harbour mouth where they waited for the inshore lifeboat. RNLI Gorleston assisted the bodyboarder onto the lifeboat, where they returned him safely to shore.

Lifeguard Supervisor Sam Every praised the bodyboarder for choosing a lifeguarded beach: ‘It is brilliant that the bodyboarder choose to visit an RNLI lifeguarded beach. As soon as he found himself in any trouble, I was on hand to assist him as I could clearly see him between the red and yellow flags.

Weather conditions can make bodyboarding dangerous at times, with strong offshore winds quickly pushing you out to sea. It is essential beachgoers check their local beach’s weather conditions before entering the water.’

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 Gorleston lifeguard service has been operating since 2001. To learn more about the lifeguarded beach go to: Gorleston Beach - Lifeguarded beaches (rnli.org)

Lifeguard Supervisor Sam Every 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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