
RNLI lifeguards in South Hams rescue several people in busy week on the coast
RNLI Lifeguards at Sedgewell Cove were alerted to a medical emergency last week (Thursday 27 June) on the Burgh Island Causeway.
Lifeguards assisted the casualty to the safety of the beach lifeguard unit using the lifeguard truck. Once back at the lifeguard unit, Senior RNLI Lifeguard Noah Hindley and lifeguard Alex Gozzard began providing casualty care, while lifeguard Tom Bennett continued to make sure other beachgoers were safe.
Noah and Alex worked together to stabilise and treat the casualty. After some careful monitoring and treatment, the casualty was able to be released.
Elsewhere, on the same day RNLI lifeguard Will Keetley rescued and aided six people at the mouth of the River Avon at Bantham.
Will had already rescued a surfer struggling in Bantham’s notorious rip current earlier that day, when he was alerted by Senior Lifeguard Matt Liptrott to a group that appeared to be struggling.
Will immediately entered the water with the rescue board and rescued three people battling against the strong river flow, he then helped three others get back to shore.
Once back on the beach it was clear that one of those that had been rescued required further medical treatment and assessment. The casualty was taken to the beach lifeguard unit where lifeguards Will and Matt provided casualty care and carried out assessments and monitoring.
Afterwards the casualty was released safe and well once the lifeguards were satisfied they had recovered.
Luke Lane Prokopiou, South Devon Lifeguard Supervisor said: ‘Our lifeguards did a fantastic job responding quickly and efficiently to these incidents and providing the top-quality lifesaving service we’ve trained them to do.
‘We’d like to remind people when heading to the coast to go to a lifeguarded beach, and to swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags as that is the safest place to do so.’
Notes to editors
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Primary photo shows RNLI lifeguards from left to right Noah Hindley, Tom Bennett and Alex Gozzard
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Second photo shows RNLI lifeguard Will Keetley
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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.
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