Off-duty lifeguards risk their lives in rescue

RNLI lead lifeguard supervisor Adam Harris thanked Matt Trewhella "who risked his own life to save another"

Off-duty lifeguards saved a swimmer from strong currents at a beach in west Cornwall on Wednesday.

The RNLI said the team of nine lifeguards were finishing their training at Praa Sands on Wednesday when Falmouth Coastguard received multiple calls about a man in difficulty.

The charity said there were near-gale-force winds bringing in a "sizeable swell" and creating "incredibly strong currents" which swept both the rescuers and the swimmer toward rocks.

After about 15 minutes the swimmer was brought to shore and RNLI lead lifeguard supervisor Adam Harris said if the team had not been there he feared "there would have been a completely different outcome".

The lifeguards were off-duty at the time

The RNLI said senior lifeguard Matt Trewhella had paddled about 200m (656ft) towards Hoe Point where he found the swimmer only just keeping himself above the water.

The charity said Mr Trewhella used his rescue board to bring the man out of the water, but he and other lifeguards who had also entered the water to help were being washed towards the rocks and cliff at Sydney Cove.

The team of lifeguards managed to bring the man to shore where he was treated by paramedics.

'Incredibly proud'

Mr Harris said: "I'm incredibly proud of the team of nine lifeguards who, although weren't on active duty, showed incredible courage and teamwork to save the life of a holidaymaker at Praa Sands."

"Well done to the team who entered the water, especially Matt Trewhella, who risked his own life to save another," he added.

Lifeguard cover for beaches across the South West started on Saturday.

RNLI supervisor Andy Bray added: "There's a forecast for constant strong winds creating unpredictable swell and currents to be hitting the South West over the next few weeks, so be extra careful if you are visiting the coast and follow the advice of our RNLI lifeguard teams."