Mass rescue on Cornish beach as the rip current draws 16 people

A powerful backwash in Cornwall sparked a major operation in which lifeguards helped 14 surfers and two bodyboarders out of the water.

The mass rescue was carried out on Fistral Beach in Newquay at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13 – just hours after three other surfers were rescued from another rip current.

The RNLI says the strong current came on just as the tide was going out.

Rescuer Liv Harwood was the first to respond and walked straight to the injured on her rescue board.

She soon realized that more people were being dragged into the current path and so called for help – rescuers Ben Temme and Stuart helping to bring people to safety.

Conditions on Fistral were sunny with two to four foot waves and a lot of people in the sea.

At the time of the incident, the team already had three rescuers patrolling rescue boards in the water in anticipation of any sudden changes.

Fistral head lifeguard Arron Evans said: “Right now on Fistral there is a deep trench running through the middle of the beach. The high tides combined with the surf conditions meant that when the tide went down, a current of very strong return began to take to sea.

While Liv, Ben and Stuart were helping the surfers who had been taken off at sea from the black and white flags (surf zone), lifeguard George Murphy was helping some bodyboarders who were moving away from the red and yellow flags towards the tear and s’ ensured all swimmers were safe and sound. “

Earlier today at 12:15 p.m., lifeguard Lesley Dawson was part of an onboard patrol in the water when she responded to a rescue and helped three male surfers caught in a rip current and struggling to return to Earth.

In total, Fistral’s RNLI rescue team assisted 19 people caught in strong rip currents within hours.

Arron added: “It proved how powerful the return currents can be and how quickly you could get caught up in one. This is why it is so important to go to a supervised beach and swim and swim. bodyboard between the red and yellow flags, or surf between the black and white flags.

“As lifeguards, we have local knowledge of the return currents of the beaches we are working on and we always prepare for the conditions on the day. Our lifeguards were on standby if needed today, as well as to warn people of dangers before they enter the water. “