RNLI lifeguards in Cornwall had a busy Bank Holiday weekend as thousands of people visited the county’s beaches.

At 1pm on Sunday (May 29) members of the public alerted lifeguards at Crooklets beach that a man had fallen from Mear Cliff and needed medical assistance. RNLI lifeguard Rory Sacree found the casualty had a severe head wound, but was stable. 

Fellow lifeguard Ian Burgess arrived to assist with bandaging the head wound and immobilising the head with a collar. They placed the casualty on a spinal board with the help of paramedics.

RNLI lifeguard supervisor Ross Hambley and Bude Surf Club members helped to carry the casualty to a nearby ambulance before he was taken to hospital by air ambulance. 

At Trebarwith Strand, RNLI lifeguards rescued a 15-year-old girl who had fallen approximately 15ft into a narrow gully on Monday (May 30).

She had suffered a suspected broken ankle and was complaining of back pain.

RNLI lifeguards John Dugard, Lewis Handley and Tiger Harbour assessed the teenager, before moving her onto a spinal board. With the help of off-duty lifeguard Andy Boxall and members of the public, the casualty was moved to a safe area to be winched by the Coastguard helicopter and taken to Derriford Hospital for treatment.

At Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth RNLI lifeguards rescued five people who got into difficulty in the water on Bank Holiday Monday. A father and daughter were rescued after their kayak capsized, lifeguard Liam Brennan then spotted a swimmer 20m out who was struggling to get back to the beach and two paddleboarders who were both struggling to get back to shore were rescued.

To find out your nearest lifeguarded beach visit RNLI.org