North Devon RNLI lifeguards commended for rescue ahead of season launch

On 24 August 2025, during a warm and busy Bank Holiday afternoon, RNLI lifeguards Beau Betteridge, Charlie Greenway, and Will Gale responded to a critical incident involving a baby experiencing a seizure in the water.

The RNLI lifeguards arrived to find CPR already underway from members of the public and immediately took over resuscitation efforts, continuing chest compressions and successfully clearing an airway until the baby showed signs of life. The team provided lifesaving interventions until air and land ambulance crews arrived to take over.

At the same time, two other RNLI lifeguards, Leon Morgan and Bruno Endean, were managing a second major first aid incident also involving a child in the lifeguard facility at the top of the beach. Those two lifeguards will also receive a personal letter of thanks in recognition of their actions.

The air ambulance and Croyde Coastguard Rescue Team also attended to provide support throughout both incidents.

The demanding sequence of events highlighted how the team of RNLI lifeguards successfully coordinated two simultaneous major first aids, maintained communication with external emergency services, and continued to safeguard the beach which was extremely busy.

RNLI leadership praised the team’s calm, coordinated response, noting that the incident reflects the high level of training and professionalism that beachgoers can expect as the new season begins.

‘This commendation recognises not only the lifesaving actions of Beau, Charlie, and Will, but the collective strength of the entire RNLI lifeguard team on Croyde beach’ said lead lifeguard supervisor, Matt Whitley.

‘Their ability to manage two major incidents at once, while keeping the beach safe, is a testament to their dedication and skill. It’s exactly the kind of scenario that shows the value of our lifeguards as we head into a new season.’

Henry Saddler-Irvine, RNLI Regional Lifeguard Lead, said ‘it gives me great pleasure to be able to recognise the lifeguards involved in this incident, and to present them with Medical Commendations from the RNLI’s Clinical Lead for the way in which they worked as a team to provide life saving interventions on an 18-month-old baby.’

The RNLI lifeguard service at Croyde and Woolacombe officially begins on Good Friday (3 April) with daily patrols to cover the Easter school holiday period until Sunday 19 April. RNLI lifeguards will be present on weekends only until 2 May when a 7-day service will resume between 10am and 6pm.