
A busy weekend of rip current rescues for Pembrokeshire RNLI lifeguards
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s beach lifeguards were kept busy this weekend as thousands headed to the Pembrokeshire coast to enjoy the sun and surf.
The combination of three to four foot surf and light wind caused an abundance of rip currents on the beaches. RNLI lifeguards were kept busy providing preventative advise to the public and encouraging them to swim between the flags.
Stuart Penfold RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for north Pembrokeshire said:
‘One of our main purposes as lifeguards is to provide preventative advice. The combination of surf, wind, and tide moving across the sandbanks at Newgale often creates rip currents.
‘The location of these currents can change every day. This forces us to regularly move the flags and dynamically assess the beach.
‘We strongly advise that you swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags or surf, kayak and paddleboard between the black and white flags. The flagged areas are patrolled at all times by our lifeguards between 10am-6pm.
‘If you see the red flag flying, we have deemed that area of the beach as unsafe, most commonly due to rip currents.
‘If you find yourself caught in a rip current, don’t swim against it or you’ll get exhausted. If you can stand, then wade don’t swim. If you can, try to swim parallel to the shore until you’re free of the current, and then head back to shore. Always raise your hand and shout for help.’
On Saturday, lifeguards patrolling at Whitesands Beach spotted two surfers caught in a rip current. Lifeguards Thomas Owen and Finn Jones both entered the water with rescue boards and paddled straight to the casualties. One of the casualties was helped onto a rescue board whilst the other was given verbal assistance, both were safely returned to shore.
At Newgale Beach, Senior Lifeguard Dafydd Ridgway was patrolling on water’s edge when he spotted two surfers who were struggling to return to shore just outside of the black and white flags. Dafydd immediately made his way out on a rescue board towards the surfers.
Dafydd reached the surfers, helped one onto his rescue board and assisted the other until they were out of the rip current. He paddled back to shore with one on his board, whilst ensuring the other also made it back safely.
The Newgale lifeguard team decided to patrol the beach using the Rescue Water Craft (RWC) due to the increasing number of people in the water and the rip currents that continued to appear.
Shortly after launching the RWC, Lifeguards Jonathan Cafolla-Ward (operator) and Fiona Campbell (crew) came across three surfers who had also found themselves stuck in a rip current.
Jonathon dropped off Fiona with the surfboards, helped the three surfers onto the rescue sled and returned them to shore. He then headed back to retrieve Fiona and their surfboards.
During the remainder of the afternoon, lifeguards maintained a rotation of RWC patrols to shepherd people into the flagged areas. During this time, they gave preventative advice to at least 15 people and lifeguard Fiona came across a bodyboarder who was swiftly drifting out in a rip current. Fiona helped the bodyboarder onboard the rescue sled and safely returned them to shore.
In the south of the county, lifeguards working at Freshwater West Beach arrived before patrol hours to find two surfers in a rip current. Using the pulsar and hand signals from the shore, the lifeguards managed to direct the surfers safely out of the current and gave them safety advice once they returned to shore.
In the afternoon, sea mist descended on Freshwater West which reduced the lifeguards’ visibility, and they were forced to red flag the beach.
During this period, two individuals were reported as missing to the lifeguards. Locating the individuals was extremely challenging due to the mist. The Coastguard were contacted for assistance but were stood down shortly after as the individuals reappeared and were in good health.
Over the weekend, seven people were assisted out of rip currents. Five people were assisted by lifeguards Liam Nash, Eddie Waring, Luke Colman and Jack Bruce on rescue boards, and two were assisted by lifeguard Olly Beere patrolling on the RWC.
The lifeguards were also approached by an individual who had sustained an injury to the face whilst surfing. Lifeguard Supervisor Tai Jackson and lifeguard Luke Colman administered first aid and advised that they go to hospital for further treatment.
Oliver Davies-Scourfield Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for South Pembrokeshire said:
‘This weekend highlighted the importance of swimming between the flags, but also to remember that we have deemed the beach as unsafe when the red flag is flying.
‘The sea mist that descended on Freshwater West made it impossible for us to safely patrol the beach. If we can’t see you in the water, we won’t know if you need our help.
‘If you’re ever unsure as to why we’ve red flagged the beach, please approach our lifeguards. We’re more than happy to offer guidance and direct you to a safer place to swim.’
‘In Pembrokeshire the following beaches are currently being patrolled every day from 10am-6pm: Newport Sands, Poppit Sands, Whitesands, Newgale Central and South, Broad Haven, Freshwater West, Tenby North, Tenby Castle, Tenby South and Saundersfoot.
‘Choose one of our lifeguarded beaches if you’re planning a dip.’
To find your nearest lifeguarded beach visit: Lifeguarded Beaches - Find Your Nearest Lifeguarded Beach (rnli.org)
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