Western Morning News (Saturday)
RNLI lifeguard patrols return to West beaches
RNLI lifeguards patrolling a number of beaches around the South West have had a busy start to the season – and are preparing to return to several of the region’s beaches daily from today for the summer season.
The lifesaving charity is also urging beachgoers to head to a lifeguarded beach this bank holiday weekend and over the months to come, and to stay safe after a number of incidents during the Easter weekend.
Along the north coast, beaches were reported to be very busy over Easter with people making the most of the long weekend and big surf. Easterly winds created challenging conditions in certain locations and in the Newquay area a windsurfer was rescued after being blown offshore. The lifeguard teams also carried out several rip current rescues as the spring tides created strong currents. At Fistral a surfer was rescued in distress after being caught in large waves and a strong rip current which took them approximately 1000m offshore. Around 10 people were rescued by a local surf school at Crantock beach after they got caught in strong conditions. And surf clubs along the north coast also carried out voluntary patrols as a preventative measure due to the conditions.
Tregonhawke RNLI also dealt with multiple rip current rescues and on Easter Saturday during a routine inshore rescue boat patrol, two people and their dog were assisted back to shore having been cut off by the incoming tide.
RNLI lifeguard supervisor, Drustan Ward, was carrying out preventative patrols at Porthtowan’s neighbouring beach Chapel Porth when he was alerted to an incident involving a man who had fallen from the rugged cliff path. Due to the large flooding tide, they needed to quickly evacuate the casualty who had sustained injuries to their ankle, chest and arm and the Coastguard helicopter was tasked to airlift the casualty to hospital. Porthtowan lifeguards were involved with assisting 11 people who were cut off by the tide over the Easter holidays.
At Northcott beach in Bude, RNLI lifeguard supervisor Ross Hambley was patrolling, concerned about the dangerously strong rip currents that form during a flooding tide. At around midday, Falmouth Coastguard tasked Bude RNLI lifeboat to patrol neighbouring beaches and at 2pm two bathers were spotted in significant difficulty and were rescued using the rescue watercraft. One of the casualties appeared to be suffering from hypothermia and was taken to a nearby hospital for further assessment.
Ross said: “This incident demonstrates the importance of always choosing to visit a lifeguarded beach.”
From today, April 30, RNLI lifeguards will return to the following beaches for daily patrols for the 2022 season: Gwithian, Hayle, Constantine, Treyarnon, Harlyn, Polzeath, Widemouth, Summerleaze, Porthtowan, Mawgan Porth, Watergate Bay, Towan, Praa Sands, Sharrow, Tregantle, Tregonhawke, Bantham, Sedgewell Cove, West Bay, Weymouth, St. Ouen’s (Jersey) and Le Braye (Jersey).