Red flag rescue The red flag was flying, there were constant loudspeaker announcements, and safety signs alerted people to the dangers. Despite these warnings, people were still in the waterSwimmers near Bournemouth pier were in danger of being caught by the force 4 winds and strong currents of 8 August 2004. The Area Lifeguard Manager Barry Heathfield recalls it was a busy day for the RNLI beach lifeguards:'When it's rough there, it's really rough. We were pulling people out left, right and centre.' It was mid morning and Senior Lifeguard Dan Walsh was patrolling on the shoreline. Due to the height of the waves, he could only occasionally see past the surf break. Concerned for those swimmers further away, he asked Barry to launch the rescue watercraft (RWC).

By this time a young woman was indeed in trouble behind the surf break.

Caught in a current, she was being thrown against the legs of Bournemouth pier.

Luckily, a pier deck-chair attendant spotted that someone was in trouble and he jumped from the pier with a lifebuoy.

Dan saw the man jump so he immediately grabbed his rescue board, alerted the other lifeguards by radio and raced out to where the man had gone in. As Dan paddled, his attention was drawn to other swimmers fighting against the current, but they were nearly standing, so Dan kept going towards the person in more immediate trouble. Dan recalls the moment he reached her:'The casualty was unresponsive, very pale and I couldn't tell if she was breathing.' Due to the waves by the pier Dan couldn't do a thorough medical assessment.

The deck-chair attendant had placed the lifebuoy around the woman's waist, so Dan dropped the rescue board and used the lifebuoy ropes to tow her away from the pier legs. Dan called for assistance from Barry on the RWC, accompanied by BeachSafety Manager Steve Wills. They helped place the casualty on the RWC's sled and took her swiftly to the beach.

Dan and Barry carried her up onto dry land where they were met by a lifeguard with medical equipment. Another lifeguard kept patrolling at the water's edge to make sure other swimmers were not in trouble.

Someone on the shore told the lifeguards that the woman was epileptic. It wasn't clear whether she had suffered a fit or had been knocked unconscious against the pier legs. Dan cleaned froth from the woman's mouth, clearing the airway. He established she was breathing and had a pulse. The lifeguards managed to remove the lifebuoy, put her in the recovery position and administer oxygen.

The Dorset Ambulance bicycle medic arrived on the scene within minutes. While he was assessing the casualty the lifeguards brought blankets and a stretcher. When the medic was ready, they carried the casualty up the beach onto a trolley for the ambulance.

For Dan and the others there was no time to reflect, the beach was packed and some people were still swimming. But later Dan began to realise what he had just achieved: 'While it was going on, itfettjust like a training exercise. Then I thought about it some more and I realised something big had just happened.' Dan Walsh is currently working as a lifeguard in Queensland, Australia as part of an RNLI exchange programme and is totally committed to lifeguarding:'! love the job and I love the beach. It has been such a major part of my life for as long as I can remember.'.