RNLI lifeguards at Bantham help swimmer in multi-agency incident
RNLI lifeguards faced challenging conditions on Sunday afternoon (29 September) to assist a swimmer who had got into difficulty near Bantham beach in south Devon.
At 4pm, RNLI lifeguards at Sedgewell Cove and Bantham beaches were alerted by Falmouth Coastguard following reports of someone in the water at Bigbury, the beach between Bantham and Sedgwell Cove.
RNLI lifeguards from Bantham launched their Rescue Water Craft (RWC), with Senior Lifeguard Noah Hindley at the helm, and Senior Lifeguard Matt Pyman as crew. The lifeguards were assisted by two Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters, Bigbury and Kingsbridge Coastguard Rescue Teams, and Salcombe RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat was also tasked to the scene.
The lifeguards battled their way through eight-to-ten foot waves in extremely difficult conditions, in the middle of a Met Office yellow weather warning for strong winds and heavy rain.
They were able to locate the casualty, with assistance from the two bystanders who had initially dialled 999, in a cove by the cliffs.
The casualty’s location, coupled with the challenging conditions, meant the lifeguards were unable to get to the casualty using the RWC. With the tide coming in, the decision was made for Matt to take the rescue tube and swim to him.
On arrival Matt found the casualty was wet and cold but otherwise unharmed. Matt was then able to assist him in getting to a safe part of the shore, away from the breaking waves, where they were met by RNLI lifeguards from Sedgewell Cove and the Coastguard team.
Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor, Luke Lane-Prokopiou said:
‘This incident could have ended very differently; we are incredibly proud of our team for their hard work and courage in this incident.
‘Noah and Matt have worked hard for months, along with the rest of the team to train and qualify on the RWC. Their hard work and training was clear to see in their professionalism in dealing with this incident. The skill and strength displayed by Matt to swim into the casualty and get him to safety was outstanding especially in the tough conditions the lifeguards encountered.
‘We would like to remind the public that currently we are only patrolling at Bantham on weekends through October, and then again daily through October Half Term.’
To find your nearest lifeguarded beach click here: Lifeguarded Beaches - Find Your Nearest Lifeguarded Beach (rnli.org)
Notes to editors
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Photo shows Senior RNLI lifeguards Noah Hindley and Matt Pyman
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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 142,700 lives.
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