Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguards patrolling Pendine Beach, South West Wales, had just over an hour to go on their final shift of the 2010 season when they were called into action conditions to rescue a local kayaker who had got into difficulties.
Vigilant to the last, lifeguards James Shuttleworth, John O’Boyle and Matt Davie noticed a kayaker who had got into difficulty at the Morfa Bychan (west end) of Pendine at 4.45pm.
The lifeguards had been monitoring the kayaker, who was local and in his mid-30s, for a short time. However, he soon capsized and was getting into serious difficulty so the lifeguards began a rescue.
Lifeguards James Shuttleworth and John O’Boyle paddled out to the scene on rescue boards carrying rescue tubes, in a force five to seven cross-onshore wind in a three to four feet swell.
By the time they arrived to assist the kayaker he had become stuck at the bottom of cliffs and was trying to get out of the water at the base of the cliff but was unable to do so.
Lifeguard John O’Boyle had by now got off his rescue board and was swimming to the kayaker with a rescue tube, fearing that the kayaker was going to suffer serious injuries through the way he was being pushed up against the rocks.
John secured the casualty in a rescue tube and managed to move him and his kayak away from the rocks. After securing the casualty on a rescue board and retrieving his kayak, the lifeguards realised that because of the rip and the tides they had been carried out past the point at and would now be unable to get the kayaker back to Pendine, so they called the Tenby all-weather lifeboat for assistance.
The lifeguards then realised, having assessed the conditions once more, they could take the casualty in to Morfa Bychan bay, and take shelter there while waiting for assistance.
After landing the casualty on the beach the lifeguards conducted a first-aid check and saw that he had numerous scrapes and bruises, as did lifeguard John O’Boyle, luckily neither needed hospital treatment.
Although the all-weather lifeboat had arrived on scene its assistance was not needed. The Coastguard, who had also arrived on scene, then took the casualty and lifeguards back to Pendine lifeguard unit.
Area lifeguard supervisor Adam Pitman said: ‘It seems that the kayaker was unaware he was in any danger. But, there are signs at Pendine warning of strong currents
‘By the time the lifeguards reached the kayaker they were all 500 to 600 metres from shore.
‘The lifeguards involved are a credit to the service. They maintained their professionalism to the very last moments of the season in carrying out a courageous rescue in difficult conditions.
‘We would like to remind the public that lifeguards have now finished the season in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and, consequently, will not be there to assist if people get into difficulty.
‘So we would advise kayakers and other people using the water out of season to be extra careful and to follow the key safety messages that the RNLI issues about beach and sea safety.
‘In particular kayakers should read the RNLI leaflet, Stay Safe in your Kayak, and go to our website link below for up-to-date safety advice.’ http://www.rnli.org.uk/what_we_do/sea_and_beach_safety/beachsafety/
