RNLI lifeguard praised for quick actions to save a young girl at Weymouth beach
18 year old RNLI lifeguard Molly Horton was patrolling just outside of the bathing area on Weymouth beach on a rescue board having completed her fitness training on Friday (4 July) when she was alerted to a young girl struggling out of her depth in the water.
Molly says;
I heard a shout for help and turned to look and saw a very young girl with her hand in the air struggling to stay afloat. She had swum out of her depth and was panicking in the water.
I quickly covered the 5 metres she was away from me during which time she was under the water, for only a few seconds before I pulled her onto the rescue board and paddled quickly to shore.
I was met by my lifeguard colleagues on the beach who assisted in providing casualty care while calling the emergency services who were quick to respond. She was transported her to hospital with her father for treatment.
Alice Higgins, RNLI Lead Lifeguard supervisor says;
‘This was a serious incident, which thanks to Molly’s quick actions, was managed really well by Molly and the rest of the team.
Thankfully the family were at a lifeguarded beach, the incident happened around high tide when the water can get very deep very quickly so we’d urge parents to stay with their children and for those less able to stay within their depth.
Its looking like another week of dry and settled weather and we’re expecting our beaches in Dorset to be busy. Please head to a lifeguarded beach, swim between flags and if you find yourself in trouble, Float to Live, knowing this technique and encouraging your family to practice, could save your life.’
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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