Lifeguards rescue 11 bathers at Woolacombe

RNLI lifeguards rescued a group of 11 bathers being swept out to sea by a rip tide at Woolacombe beach on Sunday. They had to make three trips in their inshore rescue boat to bring everyone back to the shore. A kayaker and a surfer who had seen the situ

RNLI lifeguards rescued a group of 11 bathers being swept out to sea by a rip tide at Woolacombe beach on Sunday.

They had to make three trips in their inshore rescue boat to bring everyone back to the shore.

A kayaker and a surfer who had seen the situation develop helped keep the casualties afloat.

Once back on the beach, lifeguards Luke Yabsley and Sam Day, who had only resumed their summer patrols on Saturday, checked out the group of children and adults and found them to be fine, but shaken by their experience.

Phil Hill, RNLI divisional lifeguard manager for Devon, said the incident illustrated how unpredictable the sea was and how quickly conditions could change. It reiterated the importance of swimming at a beach patrolled by lifeguards.