RNLI lifeguards and Looe lifeboats respond to multiple casualties at Tregantle

With warm temperatures and bright sunshine drawing large crowds, Whitsand Bay saw conditions more like midsummer than early April. RNLI lifeguards have been carrying out daily Easter holiday patrols at Tregonhawke beach.

Late in the afternoon, due to the serious nature of several rip currents, RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Charlie Gillett positioned himself at Sharrow beach lifeguard unit to monitor the water from a vantage point. He spotted four swimmers in difficulty at the far end of an area known as Longsands, with one person appearing to be in immediate distress.

Recognising the severity of the situation, an immediate call was made to the lifeguards at Tregonhawke, who launched the inshore rescue boat (IRB), crewed by lifeguards Tristan Gillett and Terry Dungay. They faced a 2.5 mile transit to reach the scene.

Due to the severity of the incident, RNLI lifeguards updated Falmouth Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and requested additional support. At 4.35pm, Looe RNLI’s Atlantic and D class inshore lifeboats were launched following a request to assist.

While the lifeboats made their way across Looe Bay, RNLI lifeguards in the IRB ensured all the swimmers where safely ashore, a stronger swimmer in the group helped an adult who was also struggling in the rip. Once all swimmers were confirmed safely out of the water and initial medical assessments were completed, the Coastguard stood down both lifeboats, and the volunteer crews returned to station.

Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Palfrey commended the teamwork between services:

‘The lifeguards made exactly the right call by requesting support from Looe RNLI D class lifeboat, the most suitable asset for surf zone rescues. In fastmoving situations like this, knowing a lifeboat is on the way allows lifeguards to focus entirely on the rescue in front of them.’

It was an extremely busy start to the season for Tregonhawke RNLI lifeguards. Between 3–8 April, they responded to 13 incidents, including one rescue, eight assists, and 114 near misses, many involving swimmers caught in developing rip currents as beach activity increased over the Easter holidays.

• Tregonhawke Beach is patrolled daily during the Easter School holidays 3 April-19 April, then weekends only 25 April-26 April, and daily from 2 May-27 September.
• RNLI lifeguards will return to Tregantle and Sharrow Beach daily from 16 May - 27 September.
• Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
  An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II
• For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station
• Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

For more information please contact Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected], Annabelle Spiers, RNLI Communications Placement at [email protected] or on 07521943895, or RNLI press office on 01202 336789

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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.