21/08/2013

Lifeguards Swim Nine People To Safety From Gully

Nine people, including six children, have been rescued by lifeguards after being trapped in a gully on a Cornish beach.

The RNLI said that lifeguards had to swim each of the nine people to safety as the gully was too dangerous to use a lifeboat or paddleboards.

Senior lifeguard Martin White said: "'Because of the shape of the gully and the size of the swell, it was impossible to get the inshore rescue boat or even the rescue board in close enough to pick up the casualties, so the only way was to swim in.

"It was a very difficult and long process, made even worse by the time pressures of the incoming tide and a building swell.

"Thankfully, we all know this beach and stretch of coastline very well and were able to read the waves and get them all out safely."

(MH/JP)

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