RNLI lifeguards respond to swimmers in difficulty at Woolacombe beach

At 4pm on Saturday afternoon, lifeguard Alfie Berry was monitoring the red and yellow flags when he spotted five casualties struggling in a rip current north of the flags.

Fellow lifeguards John Herries, David Miller and supervisor Kane Shaw were completing Rescue Water Craft (RWC) assessments at the northern end of the beach when they were alerted to the danger.

John and David immediately reacted by using their rescue boards to reach the casualties, while Kane assisted on the RWC.

Kane returned two of the casualties to shore using the RWC, while the others were returned on rescue boards, all returning safely to shore where no further casualty care was required.

Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor, Amy Edmonds, said: ‘I’m really proud of the way the lifeguards spotted the danger and immediately took action to ensure the casualties were brought back to shore safely.

‘Rip currents can be difficult to spot, but are sometimes identified by a channel of churning, choppy water on the sea's surface, so don’t be afraid to ask lifeguards for advice. They will show you how you can identify and avoid rips.

‘With warm weather expected for the rest of the week and into the weekend we urge people to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags as this is the area most closely monitored by lifeguards.

'If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live. Tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can.'

The best way to avoid a rip current is to choose a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the red and yellow flags, which have been marked based on where is safer to swim in the current conditions. This also helps you to be spotted more easily, should something go wrong.

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

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.

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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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