Busy heatwave period for Pembrokeshire RNLI beach lifeguards
Over the bank holiday weekend, Pembrokeshire RNLI lifeguards recued four people and assisted a further six people in the water as crowds visit the beach during May half-term.
With a spell of hot weather over the bank holiday weekend, beach numbers have risen widely with lots of visitors coming to the coast. With this increased beach population, RNLI lifeguards in Pembrokeshire have been busy keeping people safe.
On Saturday, RNLI lifeguards at Whitesands in St Davids assisted three children who were swept out to sea in a flash rip current. Lifeguards responded quickly on a rescue board and advised them to swim parallel to shore out of the pull of the rip current, where they were then able to safely return to the beach.
On Monday at 2.25pm and 3.30pm at Whitesands Beach, RNLI lifeguards rescued two people both caught in a powerful rip current at the north end of the beach. Lifeguard Tom Rogers entered the water with a rescue tube to help a child on a bodyboard and returned him safely back to shore. An hour later, Lifeguard Jake Rogers entered the water on a rescue board to a woman struggling in a rip current, safely returning her to shore.
Also on Monday at 2pm, RNLI lifeguards at Newgale Beach rescued two surfers over 400m out to sea and drifting rapidly to the south end of the beach. From the lifeguard tower, Lifeguard Harry Nichols had spotted the two surfers who were clearly fatigued and fighting against the wind. Lifeguards Dafydd and Arthur responded on rescue boards and paddled over 400m, reaching the exhausted surfers and returned them to shore.
Later in the afternoon at around 4pm, the lifeguard team had multiple assists to children on bodyboards who found themselves out of their depth due to a combination of strong offshore winds and swell. Lifeguards went in on rescue boards and assisted the children to shore.
Senior Beach Lifeguard Dafydd Ridgeway said:
‘With it being a bank holiday weekend, the May half-term and very hot weather, the beach numbers have risen a great deal, with lots of visitors coming to the coast.
‘We would like to remind everyone to swim between the red and yellow flags and be aware of offshore winds that can blow you out to sea. Our orange windsock marks when there are strong offshore winds and we advise against the use of inflatables, as you can easily be blown out to sea.
‘We would also like to remind people to keep an eye on their children due to the numerous incidents over the weekend where children become quickly out of their depth.’
While the air temperature is warm, the seas are still cold and cold water shock remains a very real risk. The lifesaving charity is urging everyone to stay safe.
If you find yourself in trouble in the water, the RNLI’s safety advice is Float to Live:
- Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
- Relax and try to breathe normally
- Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
- It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
- Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.
If you see someone else in trouble at the coast, remember Phone, Float Throw:
- Phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard to get help
- Tell the struggling person to Float to Live
- Throw them something that floats, such as a life ring.
RNLI beach lifeguards in Pembrokeshire continue to operate at Tenby South, Newgale Central and Whitesands 10-6pm everyday for the remainder of the half term. After Sunday 31 May, Newgale Central will revert to weekends only, while Tenby South and Whitesands will continue to be lifeguarded everyday until September.