Newquay RNLI lifeguards and lifeboat crew to feature on Saving Lives at Sea

The episode, airing on BBC 1 on Thursday 11 September at 8pm, will feature the rescue of six young people who were caught out by the tide at Watergate Bay in June 2024.

RNLI lifeguards Sam Code and Olly Malkin were alerted by the group's parents that their children had gone missing. With high tide imminent, Sam quickly launched the Rescue Water Craft (RWC), with Olly on the recovery sled.

Sam and Olly checked along the south end of the beach where the children were suspected to be; an area which is notorious for strong rip currents. The children were nowhere to be seen.

As the search went on, the possibility that the children may have been washed out to sea by the strong currents in the rising tide became more and more probable. The lifeguards phoned the Coastguard for assistance, who tasked the Newquay RNLI lifeboat.

With the lifeboat on its way, the lifeguards finally located the group of children, and together the lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crew recovered all six casualties and brought them back to safety.

RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Newquay, Lewis Timson, said:

‘We are excited to see our Newquay lifeguards featuring on Saving Lives at Sea for the second time this season, which is another excellent demonstration of teamwork between our lifeguards and lifeboat crews.

'Rescues where we see people caught out by rising tides are high-pressure scenarios, and making quick decisions can be a matter of life or death. We are so proud of Sam and Olly for their intuitive thinking.'

The tenth series of Saving Lives at Sea shares real RNLI rescues from around the UK and Ireland, told through the real accounts of RNLI lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crews. From dramatic rescues far out at sea to everyday incidents on the coast, the programme offers unique insight into the lifesaving work of the charity.

This rescue will be featured in the episode broadcast on Thursday 11 September at 8pm, and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Notes to Editors

- Spokespeople are available for interview, please contact the press office on the details below

- This rescue will be featured in the episode broadcast on Thursday 11 September at 8pm, and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Media contacts

For more information please contact Colleen Semple, Communications Placement on [email protected] or Amy Caldwell, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or via [email protected]