RNLI lifeguards at Porthtowan beach came to the aid of a mother and daughter who got caught in a strong rip current at the weekend.

Lifeguards spotted the pair being dragged out to sea during a final check on the beach as they prepared to finish patrols.

At 6.20pm lifeguards noticed the girl had left her bodyboard behind and was attempting to swim back to shore with her mother. The pair were caught in a strong rip current which was taking them further out to sea.

Senior RNLI lifeguard, Mark Evans, and lifeguard Jamie Ward grabbed the rescue boards from the patrol truck and paddled out to the pair.

RNLI lifeguards also rescued a swimmer in difficulty at Holywell Bay on Thursday (June 2). After spotting the woman struggling to make it back to the shore, lifeguards launched the inshore rescue boat to bring her safely back to the beach. 

Earlier in the week, lifeguards at Praa Sands launched the inshore rescue boat to help three kayakers who got into difficulty in strong offshore winds. The family were struggling to get back to the shore when lifeguards picked them up.

The RNLI encourages people to use lifeguarded beaches where safe swimming areas are marked out between the red and yellow flags. Lifeguard patrols run from 10am-6pm daily. To find your nearest lifeguarded beach and for more safety advice www.rnli.org.uk/beachsafe.