Teenager rescued from water at Bovisand Beach by jet ski rider
A member of the public called 999 after the swimmer got into difficulty
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021
The May Bank Holiday proved to be a busy weekend for the Plymouth RNLI with five shout outs, but one particular incident stood out.
On Monday afternoon (31 May) a swimmer got into difficulty near Bovisand Beach.
After receiving the 999 call from a member of the public, three RNLI crew members launched the Inshore lifeboat and quickly proceeded to the scene.
Upon arrival, they found the casualty had been rescued from the water by a jet ski rider who was with Gareth Griffiths - the owner of Jet Ski Safaris Plymouth. They handed the teenager over to a passing sailing vessel.
The cold and exhausted casualty was extracted from the small vessel and handed over to the lifeboat crew. They were then taken to an ambulance at Bovisand Fort, where paramedics gave him a full check over following concerns for secondary drowning.
The RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew returned to station, fuelled and ready for service.
"We’re asking the public to help save more lives by sharing some simple survival skills.
"If you find yourself in the water unexpectedly, fight your instincts and float until the effects of cold water shock pass.
"If you see someone else in trouble at the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
"Swim at a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags. Always take a means of calling for help. Check the weather and tide times. Know what to do – visit RNLI.org/safety____."