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Tynemouth RNLI Lifeguards rescue family from rip current

Lifeguards News Release

Tynemouth Lifeguards sprang into action assisting a medical emergency and rescuing a mother and her two children within the space of an hour.

Three lifeguards aligned standing to the left of a Inshore Lifeboat on the beach

RNLI

Lifeguards Dougie Macfarlane, Matthew Ormston and Sally Brandon

At Tynemouth Longsands Beach on Friday 12th August, the sea waves were building up and a strong rip current was forming at the south end of Longsands near rockfaces.

The first incident of the day happened at 1pm as lifeguards Dougie Macfarlane and Sally Brandon aided a woman suffering from a suspected heart attack. Lifeguards applied their casualty care training and gave the woman oxygen until the ambulance service arrived.

Twenty minutes later Lifeguard Sam Bywater spotted a family caught in a rip current.

Sam used the RNLI rescue board to quickly get to the mother, son, and daughter. An off-duty lifeguard Matthew Ormston happened to be surfing at the time of the incident. He swapped his surfboard for a RNLI rescue board and paddled out to the incident.

Once Dougie and Sally transferred care of the woman suffering with a suspected heart attack to ambulance service, they launched the inshore lifeboat to assist Sam and Matthew as they rescued the family who had been swept 75 metres out to sea.

As Sam reached the daughter who was swept out the furthest, he saw she was in the float to live position, a tactic that he said ‘undoubtedly saved her life’.

Matthew gathered the mother and son an assured their safety. The casualties were taken back to safety, where they were given oxygen until the Coastguard and Ambulance arrived.


Sam said: ‘We were really fortunate that the daughter furthest out, who got caught in the rip knew to use the Float to Live technique. I’m so grateful that she knew what to do. We always try to tell beachgoers to use this technique if they ever find themselves in trouble, and thankfully she did.’

‘As lifeguards we always recommend using a lifeguarded beach. If you’re swimming, stick between the red and yellow flags; if you’re surfing or paddleboarding head for the black and white checkered flags. Also keep an eye out for any extra signs like rip banners and red flags which highlight danger.’

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live:
  • Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
  • Try to relax
  • Control your breathing
  • Use your hands to help you stay afloat
  • Once calm, then try call for help or swim to safety if you can.

In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.

For beach safety information and tips, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety

Notes to editors

· Here is a link to a video demonstrating the Float to Live technique: https://source.rnli.org.uk/share/8D368494-1288-427B-9579B05FD5568D3F/?viewType=grid

· Since 2001, RNLI lifeguards have saved 1,681 lives, aided 320,087 people through water rescue, returning lost children and delivering first aid and casualty care. They have responded to 251,436 incidents and carried out 32M preventative actions.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Lauren Wright, RNLI North and East Media Engagement - Placement on 07890 402106 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.

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, Twitter 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.

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