RNLI lifeguarding brothers rescue man in upturned kayak
RNLI lifeguards Carwyn and Rhys Francis leapt into action on Borth beach after a kayaker began struggling in the water when his vessel upturned.
The casualty was 300m from the shore and outside the lifeguards' primary patrol area when Carwyn, 33, showed great vigilance in spotting him in trouble. RNLI lifeguard Rhys, 29 immediately paddled out on a rescue board and recovered him from the water.
The kayaker who was not wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid was returned to shore and the sinking vessel was returned by Carwyn.
Sam Trevor, RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Ceredigion says:
‘The kayaker was incredibly lucky that he had visited a lifeguarded beach and although slightly outside of our primary patrol area, Carwyn quickly spotted him in trouble. His vigilance is to be commented as this incident could have had a very different outcome.
‘Both Carwyn and Rhys are excellent lifeguards and did an excellent job which I’m sure helped to save this man’s life.’
The Francis brothers have been lifeguarding with the RNLI since 2016. They have followed a family tradition, with older brother Sion having also been an RNLI lifeguard before leaving last year.
The incident happened on 10 June, and the brothers now continuing to work together to help save lives.
Sam adds:
‘With warm weather predicted over the coming days, we’d advise anyone visiting the coast to choose a lifeguarded beach. Remember to swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags, and surf, kayak or stand-up paddleboard between the black and white flags.
‘The lifeguards position the flags in the safest area of the beach, if you see a red flag the lifeguards have deemed that area of the beach as unsafe – so do not enter the water. If you ever have any questions, feel free to approach the lifeguards who will be happy to help and can provide local beach safety advice for the conditions that day.’
In Ceredigion, Borth and Llangrannog are patrolled full time, whilst the other beaches in the county such as, Aberystwyth South, Tresaith and Aberporth will be patrolled on weekends only up until 19 July when they go live full time until 31 August.
Chris Cousens RNLI Water Safety Lead said:
‘If you’re visiting the coast, remember to visit a lifeguarded beach. It's safest not to go into the water alone - the person you're with can help you stay safe and get help in the event of an emergency.
‘If you unexpectedly find yourself in difficulty in the water, float to live. If you see anyone else in difficulty anywhere along the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’
The RNLI’s advice for anyone struggling in the water is ‘Float to Live’:
· Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged
· Relax and try to breathe normally
· Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat
· It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently.
To find your nearest lifeguarded beach visit: Lifeguarded Beaches - Find Your Nearest Lifeguarded Beach (rnli.org)
Contacts
For more information please contact Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 07786 668829 or [email protected].
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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