Rescue Operations by Crantock Surf Life Saving Club Amidst Dangerous Spring Tides

High Spring Tides Trigger Multiple Rescues

The Crantock Surf Life Saving Club’s voluntary patrol team has been kept busy this week, responding to four separate rescue incidents involving six paddleboarders and three bathers on inflatable rings. The incidents took place amidst exceptionally high spring tides, which have heightened the risks for beachgoers in the area.

Sunday 18th August: Double Rescue Amidst Gig Regatta

The first incident occurred on Sunday, 18th August, at 18:05. As the volunteer patrol team was providing safety cover for a local Gig Regatta, one of the club’s board paddlers noticed a woman struggling to return to the beach against a strong wind. Simultaneously, the woman’s son, who was further down the river, expressed concern to another safety board member about his mother’s distance from the shore.

In response, the Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) was diverted from the Regatta to assist. The woman was safely brought aboard the IRB, where she was checked over by the crew, which included a qualified paramedic. Though she was advised to monitor her condition and seek medical attention if necessary, no further medical intervention was required at the scene. The woman was reunited with her family, and the IRB also recovered her paddleboard and paddle.

Later that evening, at 18:45, the crew was preparing to retrieve the IRB from the water when they noticed three adults on inflatable rings dangerously close to the outgoing estuary current. The IRB was relaunched, and the crew quickly reached the group, who were unaware of the potential danger. After advising them to exit the water, the crew supervised the adults until they were safely back on shore.

Monday 19th August: High Tide Hazards Continue

The following day, Monday, 19th August, saw two more incidents unfold. At 18:30, the volunteer patrol arrived on the beach to find a man and a woman struggling with an inflatable paddleboard. Without a paddle and fighting against a strong current, the man had entered the water in an attempt to swim, while the woman, sitting on the board, was beginning to panic.

The patrol team provided calm and clear instructions, advising the couple to lie flat on the board and paddle perpendicular to the current to return to shore. Following this guidance, the pair successfully self-rescued. They were then given advice on understanding currents and the importance of using a lifeguarded beach during patrol hours. The missing paddle was subsequently reported to the coastguard.

Just 20 minutes later, at 18:50, three teenagers on a single inflatable stand-up paddleboard (SUP) were spotted struggling against the current at the river mouth. The volunteers reassured the worried family on the shore and successfully guided the teenagers back to safety.

Warnings Amidst Rising Tides

This week’s high tides have proven particularly dangerous for those visiting the beach. The Crantock Surf Life Saving Club strongly advises all beachgoers to swim only during lifeguard hours and to make use of lifeguarded beaches to ensure their safety.