On Saturday, July 12, RNLI lifeguards at Perranporth beach in Cornwall carried out a dramatic rescue operation after a sudden rip current swept 10 swimmers out to sea. The lifeguard team had been monitoring several rapidly forming rip currents throughout the day when they spotted swimmers struggling beyond their depth.
Seb Bartlett, one of the lifeguards already in the water, quickly moved towards the swimmers being dragged out. As more swimmers got caught in the powerful current, Seb found himself swept alongside them and immediately signaled for urgent backup.
The patrol team onshore responded promptly by launching rescue boards, while another lifeguard on board patrol was redirected to assist. An off-duty lifeguard, witnessing the unfolding emergency, also entered the water with a rescue board to support the operation.
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Thanks to their coordinated effort, all 10 swimmers were safely brought back to shore. The RNLI identified the cause as a “flash rip”—a rapidly forming and strong current that can appear unexpectedly, even under calm conditions.
Later that evening, after his patrol shift, Seb was involved in another critical rescue. He swam out to aid two children caught in a rip current and successfully returned them to safety, where their grateful parents awaited.
Seasonal Lifeguard Supervisor Drustan Ward emphasized the dangers of rip currents, noting that they are sometimes visible as channels of choppy, turbulent water. “If you’re unsure, always ask a lifeguard for advice—they can teach you how to identify and avoid rips,” he said.
With the summer holidays approaching and beaches becoming busier, Drustan urged visitors to prioritize safety by swimming only on RNLI lifeguarded beaches and staying between the red and yellow flags—the areas most closely monitored by lifeguards.
The RNLI also reminds swimmers struggling in the water to follow the “Float to Live” technique, staying calm and floating to conserve energy until help arrives.