Lifeguards at Tregonhawke in Whitsand Bay were able to save nine people in trouble in the water in extremely challenging conditions yesterday.

Members of the Adventure Bay Surf School assisted with the mass rescue, said the RNLI South East Cornwall lifeguard team.

Meanwhile along the coast at Tregantle, three people were rescued from a strong rip current.

The rescues started at 11.15am at Tregantle, where a group of people were being directed by lifeguards to go back into the red and yellow flagged area. Four managed to get safely to shore but three – a father, son, and daughter - were caught in a strong rip current and dragged approximately 100m off-shore. RNLI lifeguards Emile Michaels and Dan Hickson entered the water on rescue boards, securing the three casualties on a rescue board and then assisting them to shore. In the extremely challenging sea conditions, it is thought all three lives would have been lost without the lifeguards’ intervention.At Tregonhawke at around 12.45pm, two people on bodyboards were rescued from just outside the red and yellow flagged zone after getting caught in a rip current. One of the bodyboarders had Parkinson’s disease, so was in shock and at risk of drowning. Lifeguards Matt Holt and Tristan Gillett quickly responded with rescue tubes and rescued both casualties, bringing them back to shore safely. Just 45 minutes later at 1.30pm, a strong rip current had formed to the east of the red and yellow flags at Tregonhawke at low tide, with surf between 5-8 foot. Very quickly eight people were dragged into the current outside of the flagged area. Lifeguard Matt Holt responded with a rescue tube and lifeguard Sophie Conway informed the Beach Lifeguard Unit of the situation. The inshore rescue boat (IRB) was immediately launched, and Lifeguard Supervisor Beau Gillett also responded on a rescue board. Off duty lifeguard Andy Wrennall also assisted in the rescue. The IRB picked up four people and returned them to shore, before shepherding the remaining lifeguards and casualties to shore. Once all people were safely returned, the IRB was stood down. The beach was subsequently red flagged due to the incoming tides and inshore holes developing.Rescues were also carried out at Sennen in West Cornwall and at Sedgewell Cove in Devon yesterday.Beau Gillett, Lifeguard Supervisor in South East Cornwall, said: 'These rescues demonstrate the importance of going to a lifeguarded beach, staying between the red and yellow flags, and always making sure you are listening to the lifeguards’ advice. ‘If you do see a red flag at a lifeguarded beach, remember it is there for a reason and the conditions are simply too dangerous so please do not enter the water.’Across exposed coastal areas in Devon and Cornwall, current forecasts for today (Friday) and Saturday are predicting wave heights between 6-9 feet coupled with strong south westerly winds across the region. These conditions, alongside large spring tides, can result in a dangerous sea state and increase the risk of strong rip currents.If you find yourself caught in a rip current, follow this advice:• Don’t try to swim against it, you will quickly get exhausted.• If you can stand, wade don’t swim.• Swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore• Always raise your hand and shout for help.