The combination of good weather and the beginning of the school holidays has kept the RNLI’s Lifeguards busy on the beaches over the last few weeks.

On July 13 at Tenby Castle beach, lifeguards Ellie Wainwright and Matt Davie saved two lives by rescuing a father and 13-year-old son on holiday from Wrexham, who had been swept out to sea in a fast moving rip current. Lifeguard Matt Davie paddled out on a rescue board to bring both the father and son safely back to the beach, where they were checked over by both lifeguards. The boy was later taken to hospital, but given the all-clear the same night.

The same week, lifeguard Amy Morgan and Billy Truman rescued two children at Pendine sands whose inflatable had been blown out to sea at the end of the day at 5.55 pm. Both children were brought back to the beach, checked over and family given safety advice on how to use inflatables safely.

On Monday, July 30, lifeguards Kirk Lester and Chris Hughes did a double rescue at Freshwater West of two body boarders who had been swept out to sea in a fast moving rip current. The two lifeguards both took rescue boards out and pulled both casualties out of the water and brought them safely back to shore, checked them over and safety advice was given.

Also that day, lifeguards at Tenby Castle Beach at 5.20 pm treated a female casualty with suspected spinal injuries by immobilising her and providing pain relief whilst waiting for an ambulance in an incident which lasted the best part of five hours until just after 10 pm. Coastguard and off-duty lifeboat crew also attended the scene and helped.

Adam Pitman, RNLI supervisor for South Pembrokeshire, said: “’On the whole this has been our busiest start to a summer season in South Pembrokeshire, no doubt due to the good weather. We have seen a large increase this year in having to rescue people on inflatables, please seek a lifeguards advice before using any inflatable on the beach and never use an inflatable when the orange windsock is flying. We recommend that if you are planning to head to the beach this summer, please go to a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the flags. Our RNLI Lifeguards are on the beaches daily from 10 am until 6 pm throughout the summer holidays.”