4 Girls saved from Rip Current

RNLI lifeguards patrolling off Whitsand Bay in south east Cornwall have rescued four girls from a rip current on Wednesday 23rd May.

The teenagers were swimming off Tregonhawke Beach when the incident happened at 1pm. 

Fortunately two RNLI lifeguards on patrol in their inshore rescue boat were passing by as the rip developed.

RNLI lifeguards Naomi Bishop and Charlie Gillett were carrying out a midday patrol along Whitsand Bay when they noticed the four teenagers caught in the rip current.

They were able to pluck them to safety really quickly, Naomi said:

"It's a great day to have been on the beach today, really sunny and sheltered. 

"But the rip current developed very quickly and caught the girls out and they were quite shaken when we got them into the rescue boat.  

"I'm just glad we were on patrol and in the immediate area when things started going wrong for them." 

If you get caught in a rip then the RNLI give the following advice:

• Don't panic 
• Remain calm and let the rip take you 
• Don't try to swim against it, go with it and keep hold of your board if you have one with you. 
• Stick your hand in the air and shout for help and if you can. 
• Swim sideways until you are out of the rip current and then try to return to the shore

Conditions on the beaches in Whitsand Bay today were ideal, with lots of sun and shelter. 

But there was also a one and a half foot surf, choppy seas and it was very windy.