13-year-old boy rescued after being swept out to sea in north Cornwall
The youngster was left clinging to his bodyboard after being caught in a rip current at Trevone
Last updated 28th Oct 2021
A 13-year-old boy has been rescued after getting caught in a rip current and being swept out to sea in north Cornwall.
An off-duty lifeguard raised the alarm, after spotting the lad in difficulty at Trevone Beach near Padstow in 4-6ft surf.
Crews from neighbouring Harlyn rushed to the scene on Tuesday afternoon (26th October) to find the youngster clinging to his bodyboard.
Brothers Jordan and Jake Dean, who were part of the three-person team working at Harlyn, immediately launched the Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) with Jordan as helm and Jake as crew.
Luckily, the teenager was not hurt and was able to be reunited with his parents.
The RNLI has shared footage of the rescue to warn other families of the dangers of rough sea conditions.
Leon Bennett, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor for Padstow, said: "At the time, Harlyn was extremely busy, so we positioned an extra lifeguard on the beach to provide additional safety cover whilst the IRB was launched. A member of the public had also called the Coastguard but because of the early call Ben had made, the lifeguards were on scene with the casualty in a matter of minutes.
"The boy had been swept out in a strong rip current behind the breaking waves and around the corner from the beach. Luckily he’d done the right thing by keeping hold of his bodyboard, which enabled him to float and he wasn’t panicking which meant he could conserve his energy and control his breathing until the lifeguards pulled him into the IRB".
The lifeguards returned the boy to the shore at Trevone where he met his parents who were very grateful he had been returned safely.
This rescue comes at the same time as several incidents along the north Cornwall coastline, with people needing the help of the RNLI after getting caught out by the sea conditions.
Many of the peak season beaches have finished their lifeguard service for 2021, so the RNLI is urging people to visit its website to check which beaches have cover.
What should I do if I find myself caught in a rip current?
If you ever find yourself caught in a rip current you should following this safety advice:
• Don’t try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted.
• If you can stand, wade don’t swim.
• If you have a floatation device such as a bodyboard or surf board, keep hold of it as it will help you to float.
• If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore.
• Always try and get someone’s attention by raising your hand and shouting for help.
You can find more sea safety advice on the RNLI's website or watch the charity's Float to Live safety video below...