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Whitby RNLI save family from water after they got caught in a rip current.

Lifeboats News Release

Both the RNLI lifeguards and the inshore lifeboat attended the incident after being alerted by HM Coastguard.

RNLI/Ceri Oakes

L-R: Adam Wright, Andrew Cass, and Matt sharpe who were the three RNLI volunteers involved in the rescue.
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The RNLI beach lifeguards were the first on the scene and quickly entered the water with a rescue board. A 999 call had been made after two adults entered the sea from the beach but quickly found themselves in difficulty.

One of the lifeguards managed to get the first casualty safely to shore using the rescue board, but when they got back to the second, the sea conditions worsened and it became difficult to get the casualty to safety.

The inshore lifeboat had also been launched and arrived on the scene. Due to the large swell they couldn't safely make close contact with the three in the water and instead used the safer technique of using a throw bag with a line attached to the lifeboat.

They were then able to pull the casualty to the inshore lifeboat and get them safely on board. The RNLI Lifeguards were able to make their own way back to the shore.

Due to the sea conditions they decided to take the casualty to the bandstand steps in the harbour where the Coastguard team were waiting to check them over and give safety advice.

RNLI volunteer and helm on board the inshore lifeboat, Andy Cass said. 'It is not always obvious that there is a rip current, it can be very deceptive and often appears like a calmer stretch of water with breaking waves either side. However this is the point where the water is channeling back out to sea at it can be impossible to fight the current.

'Thank you to the Coastguard and Lifeguards for their rapid responses, without all three team's involvement, the situation could have escalated quickly and the outcome could have been a lot worse.

The RNLI's advice if you do find yourself in a rip current is:

- Don’t try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted.
- If you can stand, wade don’t swim.
- If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore.
- Always raise your hand and shout for help.

For more information: https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/rip-currents

For more information contact Lifeboat Press Officer Ceri Oakes on 07813359428 or at [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Ceri Oakes
Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitby Lifeboat Station

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