14 surfers and 2 bodyboarders rescued in Newquay
They were caught in a strong rip current yesterday afternoon
Last updated 14th Jul 2021
14 surfers and 2 bodyboarders after a rip current appeared in the middle of the beach as the tide was going out.
The conditions on Fistral were sunny with 2-4ft surf and lots of people in the sea.
At the time of the incident the team already had three lifeguards patrolling on rescue boards in the water in preparation for any sudden change.
Arron Evans, senior lifeguard at Fistral, explains how the rip current became very powerful:
‘At the moment on Fistral there is a deep trench that runs across the middle of the beach. The big tides combined with today’s surf conditions meant that when the tide was going out, a really strong rip current started to pull out to sea.
Whilst Liv, Ben and Stuart were helping surfers who’d been pulled out to sea from the black and white flags (surf zone), lifeguard George Murphy was assisting some bodyboarders who were drifting away from the red and yellow flags towards the rip and making sure all the swimmers were safe.’
Earlier in the day a rescue and assist was also made of three male surfers who were caught out in a rip tide and struggling to return to shore.
In total the RNLI lifeguard team at Fistral came to the aid of 19 people within a couple of hours.
If you ever find yourself caught in a rip current, try to remember the following key safety advice:
Don’t try to swim against it, you will quickly get exhausted
If you can stand, wade don’t swim
If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore
If you can’t swim – FLOAT to live by leaning back in the water, extending your arms and legs, and resisting the urge to thrash around to gain control of your breathing
Always raise your hand and shout for help
If you see anyone else in trouble, alert the lifeguards or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
Arron added:
‘Today has proven just how powerful rip currents can be, and how quickly you could find yourself caught out by one. That’s why it's so important to head to a lifeguarded beach and swim and bodyboard between the red and yellow flags, or surf between the black and white flags.