Allen Fleckney
Youngsters caught in rip current at Little Fistral beach
RNLI lifeguards on hand as two bodyboarders rescue three people in difficulty at Little Fistral
RNLI lifeguards on Fistral in Newquay were quickly on the scene this afternoon when four young people were caught in the rip current at neighbouring beach Little Fistral. On arrival one of the males had scrambled onto rocks while the other three had been saved by two male bodyboarders who were also in the water, the RNLI lifeguards helped administer first aid and clear an area for the coastguard helicopter to land.
RNLI lifeguards received a request from Falmouth coastguard at around 1.45pm to reports of four people, two young French girls and two young British males, in difficulty in the water on Little Fistral, the small beach around the headland from Fistral beach, which is not lifeguarded.
Lewis Timson, RNLI lifeguard supervisor, who was on roving patrol at the waters edge responded immediately and drove along the beach as far as he could before he was cut off by rocks and made the rest of the way on foot over the rocks.
While Sam Cleasby, RNLI lifeguard responded on the Rescue Water Craft (RWC) from Fistral beach. As they arrived Coastguard helicopter Rescue 192, who had been out on exercise was on scene as was a coastguard paramedic who was in the area. One of the males had managed to get himself out of the water by the rocks and was ok, while the other three had been helped in by the two bodyboarders. They had all swallowed a lot of water and were very unwell.
The RNLI lifeguards administered oxygen to one of the casualties who was in the worst condition, while Lewis cleared a landing area for the helicopter. All three were put on board and taken straight to hospital for treatment.
Lewis says;
‘Fistral is absolutely packed this afternoon, we've got around 2.500 people on the beach and another 1,000 in the water, so the RNLI lifeguards are working hard in the bathing area to keep everyone safe. There is quite a rip current that runs out by the rocks towards the Cribber on Little Fistral, which is where they found themselves in difficulty.
We're hopeful that the three casualties who were airlifted to hospital make a full recovery. They were very lucky that the two bodyboarders where there and able to help them into shore. With the rescue assets all in close proximity when the incident took place, they were being airlifted off the beach within 15 minutes.'
