RNLI lifeguards who patrol Sandy Bay in Exmouth provided emergency first aid to a man who had fallen and broken his leg on rocks at Straight Point yesterday (Thursday 30 July). The charity’s lifeguards were able to use their first aid training to stabilise the casualty’s condition, before working as a team with the local coastguards to help evacuate the casualty off the rocks by helicopter to a nearby landing site where he was transferred to a local ambulance unit. 

At about 15.50 a member of public alerted RNLI Lifeguards Ryan Spring and Jonathon Hawkins to a man who had fallen on rocks around Straight Point. They responded immediately. Ryan took the responder bag and scrambled over the rocks to find a male casualty with suspected fractured leg, while Jonathon radioed the Coastguard to requested an ambulance and the lifeguard team on Exmouth main beach to request further back up. 

Ryan assessed the casualty’s condition, administered oxygen, and with Jonathan’s help used fracture straps to stabilise the fractured leg. 

Meanwhile RNLI lifeguard Sarah Beresford provided back up on the Rescue Water Craft (RWC) from Exmouth, to clear the water of bathers and then assisted with the first aid treatment on the rocks. 

Due to the location and the severity of the casualty’s condition it was not possible to get him across the rocks to the ambulance, so a helicopter was requested. 

The RNLI lifeguards, Exmouth coastguard team and Devon Cliffs Caravan Park security guards assisted in clearing the beach and crowd control while a paramedic was winched down. He provided further treatment before the casualty was evacuated off the rocks to a nearby landing site where he was transferred to a local ambulance unit and taken to hospital. 

Rory Smith RNLI Area Lifeguard Supervisor for Exmouth says; 

‘The RNLI lifeguards, Exmouth Coastguard, and the East Devon Cliffs Security all worked together to ensure a safe and effective rescue. Fortunately the gentleman had chosen to swim at a lifeguarded beach and we remind all bathers that the safest place to swim and paddle is between the red and yellow flags’. 

Today RNLI lifeguards and volunteer crews held rescue demonstrations on selected RNLI lifeguarded beaches across Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, providing beach goers with the opportunity to see the volunteer crew and lifeguards in action. One Big Rescue also launched the RNLI’s South West Lifeguard Appeal, which aims to raise £500,000 over the next three years towards the £5 million cost of providing lifeguards on over 90 beaches across the region. 

RNLI media contacts 
For more information please contact Amy Caldwell, RNLI Lifeguard Press Officer on 07920 818 807 or acaldwell@rnli.org.uk