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Off-duty RNLI lifeguard rescues surfer after patrols suspended

Crowds have returned to Sennen Cove in Cornwall as lockdown measures are eased - Christopher Jones
Crowds have returned to Sennen Cove in Cornwall as lockdown measures are eased - Christopher Jones

An RNLI volunteer saved a life after ignoring stay at home advice to patrol a beach off duty.

Michael Lay, 29, was among a group of lifeguards trained by the charity who started to unofficially keep watch over Sennen Cove in Cornwall after two seaside deaths in the region on Monday.

His decision to supervise the beach off duty followed criticism of the RNLI for not having lifeguards patrolling beauty spots at the time of the deaths, which took place at separate locations.

Patrols on beaches had been suspended due to the coronavirus and the charity’s chief executive, Mark Dowie, has previously called for access to beaches to be restricted.

But on Tuesday Mr Lay was on hand to rescue a teenage surfer who had got caught in a “very strong current” after his surfboard lead snapped by a 4ft wave.

Toby Pearce, 19, described how he could have been “smashed up on the rocks” if he had been left to fight his way out of the water.

The teenager said the beach safety situation was “obscene” and his close call had underscored the need for lifeguards to be reinstated.

Mr Lay said the issue of safety had been worrying him “more than the risk of me catching Covid-19 at the moment”.

Recounting the rescue, he told the BBC: "We don't have access to any of the RNLI equipment at the moment so I was out on my own board."

Mr Lay and colleagues were said to have also helped four children out of the water who were being swept down the beach.

The day before, a 17-year-old girl had died on the Cornish coast after becoming trapped beneath a capsized boat, while a man was declared dead after being pulled from the sea.

The RNLI has since announced that it hopes to have lifeguards on 70 beaches this summer - dropping down from the usual 240 that it patrols.

Mr Dowie said the charity still needed time to prepare for lifeguards to safely return to their duties, with appropriate PPE.

A spokesman said: “Every year, hundreds of people who get into difficulty in the water are helped by members of the public and off duty lifeguards at times when there are no lifeguard patrols.

“Off duty lifeguards are more aware of potential risks and will instinctively try to use their training to help people in trouble.

“We commend anyone who helps a fellow beach goer in difficulty, but we would much rather people heeded our safety advice and made themselves aware of the dangers at the beach, take responsibility for themselves and their loved ones and know what to do in an emergency.”