Busy Wednesday for RNLI lifeguards and lifeboat crew in North Devon

At 17:50 on Wednesday afternoon, just ten minutes before the end of their shift, lifeguards at Sandymere beach spotted five SUPs over 200 metres to sea in strong offshore winds and immediately called Falmouth Coastguard to task Appledore lifeboat crew.

RNLI lifeguards Will Figes and Zoe Cross launched the Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) to reach the casualties, ensuring they were safe before the arrival of Appledore’s B-class lifeboat.

The lifeboat rescued two casualties and retrieved all five of the SUPs, while the IRB brought back the other three casualties, all five people being safely returned to the Westward Ho! slipway where no further casualty care was needed.

It brought a busy day to an end for the lifeguards, with the team being alerted to a suspected explosive found at Greysands beach a few hours earlier at 2:30pm.

The Coastguard were immediately informed, and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit was deployed. Lifeguards assisted by informing beachgoers and evacuating the area to ensure the public remained safe while the device was safely detonated.

Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor, Amy Edmonds, said: ‘Wednesday was a busy day but I’m extremely proud of how our lifeguards reacted.

‘Thanks to quick reactions and strong teamwork from the lifeguards and lifeboat crew, five lives were saved and the beach stayed safe.

‘This further reinforces the importance of visiting a lifeguarded beach this summer, and our lifeguards will be at Sandymere beach and Westward Ho! every day between 10am and 6pm until the end of September.’

You can find your nearest lifeguarded beach here - https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches

Before using a paddleboard, the RNLI is urging people to adhere to the following advice:

• Always check the wind direction.
• Always wear a buoyancy aid.
• Always carry a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
• In an emergency at sea or along the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Media contacts

For more information, please contact Adam Cleary on [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on [email protected] or 01202 336789. Alternatively, you can contact Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, [email protected] or 07786 668847; Amy Caldwell, Regional Communications Lead, [email protected] or 07920 81880.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.