Busy week for RNLI lifeguards as region continues to enjoy warm weather

RNLI lifeguards rescued eight people who had been caught in a rip current in between Constantine and Booby’s Bay in Cornwall last Tuesday (23 July).

At around 2.30pm, RNLI lifeguards at both Constantine and Booby’s Bay were aware of people who had got into difficulty in deep water.

Senior lifeguards Sam Cooper and Joe Jones launched the inshore rescue boat and one by one rescued six casualties who had been bodyboarding and been dragged out to sea.

Alongside the lifeguards on the inshore rescue boat, RNLI lifeguards Charlie Henwood and David Greenwood assisted a further two casualties on rescue boards and brought them back to shore.

When back on land, RNLI lifeguards carried out casualty care checks and monitored the bodyboarders to make sure they were ok.

Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor for Padstow, Leon Bennett said:

“Our teams at Constantine and Booby’s did extremely well to work together and rescue eight people who had got into trouble in the water.

“It was by far our busiest day of the summer so far and it’s good to see our training and preparation come into practice and we were able to quickly respond to people who had been caught out of their depth in the sea and our lifeguards all did a fantastic job.

“As the summer holidays it is important to remind people of the RNLI’s advice to go to a lifeguarded beach, swim between the yellow flags and if you do find yourself in difficulty or in a rip current to not panic and float on your back, allowing yourself to remain calm, with your ears submerged as to preserve energy and keep yourself afloat.”

Elsewhere, On Sunday 28 July RNLI lifeguards at Sedgewell Cove responded to a serious medical incident.

Whilst lifeguards at Sedgewell Cove dealt with the incident, the neighbouring team at Bigbury North Jess Rendell, and Matt Pyman helped to maintain a safe bathing area, keeping an eye on those in the water.

RNLI lifeguards worked with Coastguard teams from Bigbury and Kingsbridge to secure the area of what was a busy beach with hundreds of people enjoying their day on the coast. Once paramedics arrived on scene, they immediately asked for further assistance from air medical services.

Knowing the situation, five off duty lifeguards came across and volunteered to help clear the the beach so that beach safety was not compromised.

Luke Lane-Prokopiou, Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor for the South Hams and Kingsbridge said:

“Our lifeguards did amazingly well to deal with what was an extremely serious incident and conducted themselves with excellent professionalism and worked superbly alongside other emergency services whilst keeping the public safe on the beach.”

As the region continues to enjoy warm weather, the RNLI is reminding people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.

Notes to editors

• RNLI lifeguards are operational from 10am-6pm across 89 beaches in the south west during the summer

• Photo is taken from Sedgewell Cove and shows lifeguards Zoe Durant (left), Daisy Womack (Middle) and Rosie Lawrence (Right)

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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 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.

RNLI at 200

On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.