Lifeguards ‘doing well’ following difficult rescue

Lifeguards involved in a difficult rescue at Cabot Beach on Sunday are in good spirits according to a Parks P.E.I. representative.

Matt Smith, the provincial lifeguard co-ordinator, said lifeguards got into the water to assist a couple who had been swept into a rip current outside of the supervised area in Malpeque Bay.

“In that area, we have ever changing beach conditions. So, the prevalence of rip currents is hard to calculate. But, we do have a ship current that runs with the ocean current.”

Smith says the four lifeguards are doing well, considering the severity of the situation.

At least two of the lifeguards are new to the staff this summer.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. Sunday, when Hannah Crossman and her boyfriend, Kurtis Paula, were caught in the current and pulled further away from the supervised area.

“From what we know, the couple was inside the supervised area initially and then they moved outside of it. Our lifeguards went to tell them the danger and then they went to assist as the current began to take them from shore,” said Smith.

At Cabot Beach Provincial Park, the supervised area can vary depending on the surf conditions and the tide, but it is generally about 50 metres long and about 200 metres wide.

Travis Gallant, who was nearby on the Go Deep, a boat owned by Andrew Williams, said they provided blankets and towels after Chris Ross and his dad, Gerry Gallant, pulled them up out of the water.

“My dad went for the lifeguard, and she told him to grab the other girl first. She put her life on the line again because she already swam out and grabbed the girl’s boyfriend. They both were freezing cold. If they were in the sea for even two more minutes they would have fainted and died,” said Gallant.

Crossman and Paula were taken to Prince County Hospital to be checked and were discharged Tuesday evening.

RCMP also attended the scene after receiving a call from Island EMS.