Two Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguards in Aberporth, Ceredigion, came to the aid of kayakers who had got into difficulties on the afternoon of Thursday 12 August.
Lifeguards Carys Llewellyn and Tim Lomas were on duty at Aberporth beach when a team of 13 kayakers set out from the beach in the afternoon.
The kayakers were out of view for about half an hour before coming back into view about 100 metres from the beach.
Carys and Tim noticed, however, that only 12 of the original group had come back, and that one of that group was without a kayak and holding on to another boat for safety.
Carys and Tim immediately dropped the safety flags on the beach, and went to assist the group and to find out the whereabouts of a missing kayaker who had not, so far, returned with the group.
Carys took the kayaker who had been holding on to another boat back to shore on an RNLI rescue board, while Tim paddled out around the corner of the bay at Aberporth beach to look for the missing kayaker.
Tim soon found the kayaker in the water out of his kayak, about 10 metres away from rocks, with a pretty big swell crashing into him.
Tim could see that the kayaker was not distressed or in immediate trouble, but without assistance to get back to shore he could clearly be in danger. Tim began taking the stranded kayaker back to shore after making sure he was safe and helping another kayaker, who had come out to assist, to recover and hook up the stranded boat.
Cardigan lifeboat was launched to assist but stood down when it was clear all casualties had been brought into shore and no further assistance was required.
RNLI area supervisor Dylan Jones said: ‘This was very observant and quick-thinking work from the two lifeguards. Carys and Tim ensured that everyone on the beach’s safety was considered, while going to the aid of kayakers who clearly could have got into serious difficulty if the lifeguards had not been there.
‘We are also grateful to the Coastguard and Cardigan lifeboat crew for their assistance.’
