- Lifeguards respond to three separate incidents in short timespan
- Find out more about Jersey’s lifeguards and the RNLI
- See lifeguard photos from the JEP archives below
LIFEGUARDS at St Ouen’s Bay were called into action on sand, sea and road as they responded to three separate incidents in a short timespan.
The team’s busy day on Sunday began at 3 pm when lifeguards Ed Fildes and Harry Chinn treated a moped rider who was injured after crashing into the back of a car on the road by the beach.
Later in the day, lifeguards at the Watersplash carried out first aid on a teenage boy who had fallen ill on the beach.
2013: 355 incidents
2012: 197 incidents (two lives saved)
2011: 207 incidents (two lives saved)
They treated him at the scene before paramedics arrived.
In both cases the casualties were taken to hospital.
As the day drew to an end the team were kept on duty after working hours because of challenging sea conditions, with a 4-ft surf and strong rip current.
A short time later, at around 6.30 pm, a kayaker was rescued by RNLI lifeguards Finley Taylor and Harry Chinn when he was dragged out to sea by the rip current at Le Port.
After the two lifeguards swam out to the man, they brought him back to the beach on a rescue board. The man later walked away unhurt.
No more information has been released about any of the incidents.
Jersey RNLI lifeguard supervisor Rob Stuteley said that being called to so many serious incidents was unusual.
‘Sunday was an extremely busy day at the beach and conditions were tough,’ he said.
‘The lifeguards had to work exceptionally hard and successfully attended to three major incidents.
‘When there are so many people on the beach instances are bound to happen but the lifeguards dealt with the situations incredibly well.
‘In order to remain safe on the beach, people are reminded to always swim between the red and yellow flags and talk to the patrolling lifeguards if you have any queries.’
- The RNLI has been providing lifeguard cover on Jerseys beaches since 2011.
- RNLI lifeguards patrol over 200 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.
- In 2014, they responded to 17,050 incidents with 19,353 people aided.
- To become a lifeguard, you must meet RNLI fitness standards, which include being able to complete a 200m pool swim in under 3.5 minutes, a 400m swim in under 7.5 minutes and a 200m beach run in under 40 seconds.
- According to the RNLI, ‘a good lifeguard rarely gets wet’ – 95% of a lifeguard’s work is preventative.
- In 2014, they responded to 17,050 incidents with 19,353 people aided.
- In 2010, former Economic Development Minister, Alan Maclean said that the RNLI were willing to provide cover for £80,000 less than the States of Jersey-run service.
- Many Islanders were outraged at the spending cuts and believed that it could jeopardise the standard of the lifeguards.
- A petition was started by Andrew Hosegood, owner of El Tico Beach Cantina and Nick Durbano, owner of Laneez Surf Centre, to prevent the switch to the RNLI.
