12/08/2015
Boy Rescued After Getting Into Difficulty At Downhill Beach
An eight-year-old boy has been rescued at Downhill Beach on the Causeway Coast after he got into difficulty on a bodyboard 50 metres out to sea on Tuesday.
An RNLI lifeguard was on patrol when he spotted the child in difficulty and immediately seized his rescue board and helped the young boy.
The child had been on a bodyboard outside the red and yellow flags, set up by the lifeguards to indicate the safest area to enjoy the water, when he showed signs of being in difficulty.
RNLI Lifeguard Ray Cunningham said: "It all happened very quickly as with most of these types of emergencies. I spotted the child struggling on his paddle board outside the area of the flags.
"He was trying to stay afloat and was too far out from the shore. Despite attempting to get back to land, he was not getting any closer and was getting distressed. When I arrived on scene I checked that he was okay and brought him to safety.
"It was a nice day but we would urge people who want to enjoy the sea to stay between the flags and be vigilant for rip currents. This young boy was very lucky, he was working so hard to try and get back to the shore but he was going nowhere and becoming exhausted. He was pretty shaken by the ordeal but thankfully had no injuries."
(CD/JP)
An RNLI lifeguard was on patrol when he spotted the child in difficulty and immediately seized his rescue board and helped the young boy.
The child had been on a bodyboard outside the red and yellow flags, set up by the lifeguards to indicate the safest area to enjoy the water, when he showed signs of being in difficulty.
RNLI Lifeguard Ray Cunningham said: "It all happened very quickly as with most of these types of emergencies. I spotted the child struggling on his paddle board outside the area of the flags.
"He was trying to stay afloat and was too far out from the shore. Despite attempting to get back to land, he was not getting any closer and was getting distressed. When I arrived on scene I checked that he was okay and brought him to safety.
"It was a nice day but we would urge people who want to enjoy the sea to stay between the flags and be vigilant for rip currents. This young boy was very lucky, he was working so hard to try and get back to the shore but he was going nowhere and becoming exhausted. He was pretty shaken by the ordeal but thankfully had no injuries."
(CD/JP)
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