Busy Bank Holiday for Devon Lifeguards

It was a busy Bank Holiday for Devon's Lifeguards with more than ONE HUNDRED people being rescued.

With beach goers and water users enjoying the sunshine and surf conditions the lifeguards had a demanding day dealing with nearly 80 incidents and on Woolacombe beach, they rescued 40 people in a mass rescue.

Vaughan Lawson, RNLI Area Lifeguard Manager for north Devon explains: "Today has been a perfect bank holiday, with some welcome sunshine and a decent sized surf bringing people flocking to the beach.

"On Croyde there were easily 6,000 on the beach and at least 800 in the water at any one time.

"Unfortunately the size of the surf, which on some sets was about 6 foot, made conditions on both beaches challenging and the RNLI lifeguards were working hard all day to maintain safety in the water."

It was a similar picture in South Devon on Batham beach:

Occupants of two dinghies that had capsized coming out of the river, rescued seven children caught in a rip current, attended two medical emergencies and searched for several lost children over the course of the day.

Liam Krige, RNLI lifeguard supervisor for Bantham says: "After the bad weather, people were really keen to get out and enjoy their bank holiday Monday in the sun."

"There were around 4,000 people on the beach and at least 800 in the water at any one time.

"The lifeguards were kept very busy assisting people in the water as well as the usual problems faced with large crowds on the beach such as lost children and minor first aids."

For more information on the RNLI and the work of lifeguards on our beaches: http://www.rnli.org.uk/