RescUe OUT In A FLASH When three children were suddenly torn out of their depth by a rip current at a Devon beach, they were in danger of being thrown onto rocks – or worse Rip currents are the main surf hazard for beach goers – they can sweep swimmers from shallow water out to sea and prevent them from swimming back. For the informed observer, there are sometimes warning signs, such as murky brown water, surface foam extending beyond the surf line, and debris fl oating out to sea. But on 18 July at Bantham beach, south Devon, there was no warning when a fl ash rip developed at 4.30pm.

as its name suggests, a fl ash rip is quick and powerful. ‘We were keeping a watch on bathers when we suddenly saw three young children struggling in the water. they were out of their depth and being dragged towards the rocks in a rip current,’ says senior RnLi Lifeguard Liam Krige, who was on duty that day. He and his fellow lifeguard Cordell Venter immediately launched their inshore rescue boat (iRB).

as the lifeguards neared the scene, they realised the rocks were too close even for the iRB. ‘We would have put the children and the boat at risk if we’d hit the rocks,’ explains Liam. instead, Cordell jumped into the water and swam to the children. He helped to keep them afl oat and calm while Liam returned to shore, where he swapped the iRB for a rescue board.

Paddling back out, Liam pulled two of the children onto his board and took them to shore, skilfully avoiding the rip. Cordell swam back unaided with the third child. ‘Once back on shore Cordell stayed with the children – they were very distressed,’ remembers Liam.

By now, the rip current had begun to sweep more bathers out to sea and eight were in diffi culty. Liam launched the iRB again with Lifeguard Ben Howey and radioed his colleagues at the neighbouring sedgwell Cove for back up.

in two trips, Liam and Ben pulled six people aboard and returned them to the safety of the beach. two lifeguards from sedgwell Cove picked up the two remaining casualties. in 15 minutes, the lifeguards had rescued 11 people from the rip current. no one had suffered any injuries.

area Lifeguard manager Patrick Renauld praised Liam and the other lifeguards for their actions. ‘Lifeguards are trained to recognise and help anyone caught in a rip,’ says Patrick. ‘Luckily the lifeguards on duty were able to respond immediately and tragedy was avoided. it just shows the importance of swimming at a lifeguarded beach.’ .