At 12.30pm on Saturday 27 June, Surf Life Saving GB volunteers responded to an incident at Saunton Sands after members of the public raised the alarm. A family of four from Milton Keynes had been swept away from the shore by strong offshore winds and a rip current while body boarding and paddle boarding. The family drifted onto rocks more than a kilometre from the nearest safety cover.
Volunteer lifeguards responded immediately, using a public rescue craft to carry out a supported paddle rescue and safely return all four casualties to shore. Once back on the beach, volunteers completed casualty checks using the CHUMS assessment process and advised the family to monitor their condition over the following 48 hours and seek medical attention if any symptoms developed. Fortunately, none of the casualties required first aid.
The incident occurred on a beach with no lifeguard service operating, highlighting the vital role that Surf Life Saving GB volunteers play in responding to emergencies. The family were inexperienced in the water and unaware of the risks posed by offshore winds, rip currents and the rocky shoreline. The reporting volunteer believed the intervention saved lives by preventing the family from being swept further out to sea or onto the rocks.
