LIFEGUARDS WORK WET SUMMER Despite the met Offi ce reporting the wettest may–July since records began, RnLi lifeguards in england were very much in demand. in particular, spring tides led to a number of mass rescues, one of which you can read about in detail on page 23.

the lifeguards had a successful fi rst season on the beaches of norfolk.

in one of the area’s more dramatic incidents, a 12-year-old girl was caught in a rip current while bodyboarding and dragged onto a groyne. she hung on despite the rough waves. Lifeguard Jake Davidson swam out and brought her back to shore with a rescue tube.

For the fi rst time, Police community support offi cers helped patrol at Fistral and Perranporth in Cornwall in a trial project aimed at making these popular beaches even safer. an evaluation will be made before deciding whether to continue the scheme in 2008.

meanwhile, four lifeguards were honoured for two separate rescues off Cornish beaches in 2006: matt Boon and Ryan Lyat saved the life of a surfer swept onto rocks by a rip current. Despite huge breaking waves, Ryan jumped into the water and swam to the surfer, bringing him back to the inshore rescue boat (iRB), which matt was helming expertly.

John Bull and David Hooper went to the aid of three teenage boys whose yacht had run aground in poor weather.

the local lifeboat was unable to get close enough in the shallow water but the iRB was ideal for the task.

(a book has just been published on the history and development of the iRB, as used by RnLi lifeguards. see page 30.) .