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Newquay surfer deaths: RNLI to review lifeguard cover Newquay surfer deaths: RNLI to review lifeguard cover
(about 2 hours later)
Lifeguard cover is to be reviewed at a popular beach in Cornwall after two men and a woman died on Sunday while surfing off a stretch of the coast that is not monitored this late in the year.Lifeguard cover is to be reviewed at a popular beach in Cornwall after two men and a woman died on Sunday while surfing off a stretch of the coast that is not monitored this late in the year.
The families of the three middle-aged surfers, who were caught in a rip current off Mawgan Porth beach near Newquay, have been informed, police said. Four teenage boys, who also got into difficulty, were rescued. The three middle-aged surfers from St Austell and Leeds were caught in a rip current off Mawgan Porth beach near Newquay. Their families have been informed, police said. Four teenage boys, who also got into difficulty, were rescued.
The adults were taken unconscious from the sea and taken to Treliske for treatment in a serious condition and were later pronounced dead in hospital. Two of the three recovered from the water were given CPR at the scene before they were airlifted to hospital. It is thought that one of those who died may have been trying to rescue the others.
Insp Dave Meredith, of Devon and Cornwall police, said he could not comment on whether those who died were related to those who escaped from the water. The adults were unconscious when they were pulled from the sea and rushed to Royal Cornwall hospital – also known as Treliske – where they were later pronounced dead. Two of the three were given CPR at the scene before they were airlifted to hospital.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “What I can say is that they were a 52-year-old man from Leeds, a 44-year-old man from St Austell and a 42-year-old woman, also from St Austell. The four others were all teenage males aged 18, 18, 16, and 15. They were also taken to Treliske and pronounced safe and well.” Insp Dave Meredith, of Devon and Cornwall police, said he could not say if those who died were related to the survivors.
Meredith said the names of the dead would be released following formal identification, which could take place as early as this afternoon. He added: “There was a very prompt and professional response from all the emergency services. The main focus was life and limb, to rescue everybody. It is good that the four people were safe and well. He said: “What I can say is that they were a 52-year-old man from Leeds, a 44-year-old man from St Austell and a 42-year-old woman, also from St Austell. The four others were all teenage males aged 18, 18, 16, and 15. They were also taken to Treliske and pronounced safe and well.”
Meredith said the names of the dead would be released following formal identification, which could take place this afternoon. He added: “There was a very prompt and professional response from all the emergency services. The main focus was life and limb, to rescue everybody. It is good that the four people were safe and well.
“It is now time for the police to speak to witnesses there and speak to the other emergency services present and liaise with the coroner.“It is now time for the police to speak to witnesses there and speak to the other emergency services present and liaise with the coroner.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed that lifeguards patrol the Mawgan Porth beach from March to September and that lack of cover is clearly stated in signs on the beach. A spokeswoman told Sky News: “We position lifeguards at certain beaches during the summer months and at other times that we think will be busy during the year.” Steve Instance, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguard manager for the south-west, said: “There was a group of people who were surfing. From the reports we have, one of the people who drowned may have gone in to try to help the others.”
The RNLI confirmed that lifeguards patrol the Mawgan Porth beach from March to September and that signs on the beach clearly state the lack of cover during other months. A spokeswoman told Sky News: “We position lifeguards at certain beaches during the summer months and at other times that we think will be busy during the year.”
She revealed that a risk assessment would be carried out with other rescue services and local authorities that would consider extending lifeguard patrol at the beach into the autumn half-term holiday. “That risk assessment is decided by taking into account the number of users, the type of users, the topography of the area – how the waves fall there – and the proximity of other rescue services, she said.She revealed that a risk assessment would be carried out with other rescue services and local authorities that would consider extending lifeguard patrol at the beach into the autumn half-term holiday. “That risk assessment is decided by taking into account the number of users, the type of users, the topography of the area – how the waves fall there – and the proximity of other rescue services, she said.
“I am sure we will take into account visitor numbers at Mawgan Porth during half-term and once we know what happened today it will form part of the review into whether we need to extend lifeguard cover there.” “I am sure we will take into account visitor numbers at Mawgan Porth during half-term and once we know what happened today, it will form part of the review into whether we need to extend lifeguard cover there.”
On Sunday, an air and sea rescue mission was launched after onlookers spotted a group of seven, including four children, in difficulty in the water. On Sunday, an air and sea rescue mission was launched after onlookers spotted a group of seven people, including four children, in difficulty in the water.
James Millidge, RNLI’s coastal safety manager, suggested to the BBC that it was for the local council to decide whether lifeguard cover should be extended at Mawagn. Speaking from the beach he said: “We will continue over the course of this winter to assess all the beaches that we provide lifeguards on and make amendments if and where needed on request of the local authority as part of the service level agreements we have with them.” James Millidge, RNLI’s coastal safety manager, suggested to the BBC that it was for the local council to decide whether lifeguard cover should be extended at Mawgan. Speaking from the beach he said: “We will continue over the course of this winter to assess all the beaches that we provide lifeguards on and make amendments if and where needed on request of the local authority as part of the service level agreements we have with them.”
He urged surfers to use beaches where lifeguards were on patrol. “Throughout Cornwall and Devon there are a number of beaches with extended life guard cover through October on weekends and at half-term. They are strategically placed so that they are no more than half an hour’s drive from anyone. We would always recommend that people go and visit a lifeguarded beach.” He urged surfers to use beaches where lifeguards were on patrol. “Throughout Cornwall and Devon there are a number of beaches with extended lifeguard cover through October on weekends and at half-term. They are strategically placed so that they are no more than half an hour’s drive from anyone. We would always recommend that people go and visit a lifeguarded beach.”
Cornwall council said it was impossible to provide lifeguard cover on all of its beaches for the whole year.
In a statement, it said: “It isn’t possible to provide lifeguard cover on all beaches in Cornwall or, indeed, outside of the main season, but the council and the RNLI work very hard to advise the public of the risks and provide advice about beach safety.”
A spokeswoman added that the council and the RNLI were in “constant dialogue” about the level of lifeguard cover.
She said: “Under the service level agreement between the council and the RNLI, the RNLI carry out a risk assessment of each of the 57 beaches within the contract before the start of the season – this outlines the levels of staffing and amount of cover required for each beach during the new season. The proposals from the RNLI are then agreed with the council. This is carried out every year.”
Residents said there were rough seas along the coast on Sunday afternoon. Peter Abell, owner of the Kingsurf surf school at Mawgan Porth, which was not involved in the incident, said some currents were slightly more dangerous than usual but conditions were not as bad as they could be. “The waves were bigger, they were quite big. And it wasn’t the safest of days to be in the sea,” he said. “But it wasn’t particularly dangerous. There were lots of safe places to be and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”Residents said there were rough seas along the coast on Sunday afternoon. Peter Abell, owner of the Kingsurf surf school at Mawgan Porth, which was not involved in the incident, said some currents were slightly more dangerous than usual but conditions were not as bad as they could be. “The waves were bigger, they were quite big. And it wasn’t the safest of days to be in the sea,” he said. “But it wasn’t particularly dangerous. There were lots of safe places to be and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Abell said beaches were always changing, adding: “You can never predict this.” Describing the scene as emergency services started to arrive, he said: “I’ve never seen so many police cars and coastguards arrive at the beach before. Everyone was standing around the beach going: ‘Oh my God, what’s going on?’ There were two helicopters and three lifeboats … so we knew it was a big deal as soon as we saw that.”Abell said beaches were always changing, adding: “You can never predict this.” Describing the scene as emergency services started to arrive, he said: “I’ve never seen so many police cars and coastguards arrive at the beach before. Everyone was standing around the beach going: ‘Oh my God, what’s going on?’ There were two helicopters and three lifeboats … so we knew it was a big deal as soon as we saw that.”
A spokesman at Merrymoor Inn, which overlooks the beach, praised the response of emergency services: “[They] were here incredibly quickly. It was out of this world. They brought some of them into the pub wrapped in blankets, but it is terrible what has happened.”A spokesman at Merrymoor Inn, which overlooks the beach, praised the response of emergency services: “[They] were here incredibly quickly. It was out of this world. They brought some of them into the pub wrapped in blankets, but it is terrible what has happened.”
It is not known whether the group included experienced surfers. Inexperienced surfers can place themselves at risk in a rip current if they exhaust themselves swimming against the flow or panic.It is not known whether the group included experienced surfers. Inexperienced surfers can place themselves at risk in a rip current if they exhaust themselves swimming against the flow or panic.
Mawgan Porth is popular with surfers, who flock to the beach for waves known as Atlantic breakers, and with walkers following the idyllic coastal path.Mawgan Porth is popular with surfers, who flock to the beach for waves known as Atlantic breakers, and with walkers following the idyllic coastal path.