Lifeguards rescue 36 children on Welsh beach

Three lifeguards have been hailed as heroes after their quick response to a beach incident meant a party of 36 children and four adults were pulled to safety. RNLI lifeguards Adam Pitman, Coral Lewis and Jon Johnson, who saved the lives of 40 people in Tenby, west Wales, after a sandbank collapsed at 4pm on Tenby´s South Beach. The group of 40 were plunged into cold waters at Tenby, west Wales, when a raised sandbank collapsed into the sea. RNLI lifeguards patrolling Tenby south Beach had already spotted the group before they got into trouble and went into immediate action. Using nothing more than rescue boards and fluorescent buoyancy aids, they ferried the children, who were aged 12 and 15, to safety, along with the adults. They then performed first aid on a number of casualties saving lives with their rapid response and professional action, RNLI chiefs said. Lifeguard manager Neil Thomas tols Sky news: "They were trained to be observant and to notice what´s happening on the beach - and so they were able to react to a situation they could actually see occuring. They´re in the water every day, very active, vey physical, and they took everything in their stride". The dramatic rescue happened at 4pm at a sandbank known locally as the White Back at the right side of the beach outside the red and yellow flag zone. An RNLI spokeswoman explained that as the tide rises, the sandbank turns into liquid and disappears. "The group found themselves in the sea becoming out of their depth in what are treacherous waters", she said. It is understood that not all the children were able to swim, meaning the situation was urgent. "Two of the charity´s lifeguards, Adam Pitman and Jon Johnson, entered the water with rescue boards and tubes, and brought the individuals safely to shore. Lifeguard, Coral Lewis, who was also on patrol at the time, radioed the Coastguard. They then performed first aid on two casualties, one with a hyperthermic asthma attack and the other with hyperthermic secondary drowning. As well as the RNLI lifeguards and Coastguard, the air ambulance paramedics and two land ambulance teams were also at the scene. Six of the group´s lives would have been lost, had the lifeguards not intervened", the spokeswoman added. Dave Miller, Coastguard Sector Manager in South Pembrokeshire, added: "The three RNLI lifeguards did a superb job today. If not for their fast response times and the methods they used at the scene, lives would have been lost". RNLI lifeguard manager Neil Thomas confirmed that those rescued, who had been staying at the nearby Kiln Caravna Park, were very well and very thankful to the teams that had helped them. He said: "Our message is: always go to an RNLI lifeguarded beach, and always bathe between the flags".

Pedro,

Tenby is a lovely place, and I can tell you the Welsh RNLI Rescue teams are second to none. I think Clairesy will agree on this!

Saw this on the news.

Heroes!! in a nutshell.

They deseve a medal!

Just saw this on the news, thank god they were on the ball. Definately heroes.

( Hi )

christabel wrote:Pedro,

Tenby is a lovely place, and I can tell you the Welsh RNLI Rescue teams are second to none. I think Clairesy will agree on this!

Hi chris,yep they are a fab team hey....deffo must be to be on the ball as they were and able to save the lives of soo many with only the use of their first aid!! well done to them.

That south end beach is one Ive been on before...its nice,ive got some pics of it in the house,we went to kiln park one year when my little one was around 10 month old.We stayed at the same site those tourists stayed on (kiln park) And i think the beach they are talking about is just down the path from the caravan site...its really nice there and peaceful to.

Rosie i deffo think these lifeguards need a mention on britains bravest....good idea!

Sillycat wrote:Just saw this on the news, thank god they were on the ball. Definately heroes.

( Hi )

Hi Scat