RNLI Lifeguards rescue swimmer in difficulty on Portrush West Strand beach

Two heroic RNLI Lifeguards came to the rescue of a swimmer caught in a rip current along the north coast this week.

On Tuesday at 5pm Annie Jagoe and Senior Lifeguard Jack Devenney were alerted by a member of the public to a swimmer, struggling against strong surging waves outside of the flags at Portrush West Strand.

Lifeguard Annie Jagoe was the first to enter the water using a rescue board. On reaching the casualty Annie manoeuvred the woman onto her rescue board. Senior Lifeguard Jack Devenney came to assist on a rescue watercraft. The two lifeguards were able to get the casualty onto the rescue watercraft sled which helped them safely bring her into shore.

Both lifeguards performed casualty care. The casualty had no clear injuries. The Coastguard and ambulance were both called on reaching the shore.

Senior lifeguard Jack Devenney said: ‘Rip currents can be hard to spot, and you will struggle to swim against them, no matter how experienced a swimmer you are. If you are caught in one, do not try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted. If you can stand, wade, don’t swim. Swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore. Always raise your hand and shout for help.'

The charity’s volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. It operates ten lifeboat stations in Northern Ireland and has lifeguarded beaches on the North Coast and in County Down which it operates seasonally.

With a spell of hot weather forecasted to last into next week and with heat wave conditions expected, the RNLI has released a short film ‘Float’ which aims to show young people the importance of the charity’s ‘Float to Live’ message on drowning prevention.

The short film shot in County Wicklow, which was made by Banjoman, follows a 15-year-old boy on one warm day in summer. The young man is shown with his friends, playing football with his local GAA club and enjoying swimming, until one evening a solo dip sees him getting into difficulty in the water and struggling. Remembering the RNLI advice of Float to Live, he resists the instinct to panic, swim, or thrash about and remembers to float and survives.

The RNLI’s advice is that the act of floating can give a person the chance to rest and recover breathing, before being able to raise their hand and call for help or swim to safety.

Kate Eardley, RNLI Head of Global Drowning Prevention added, ‘This beautifully made short film is an important tool for us in our drowning prevention work. In the RNLI we know the power of stories in conveying lifesaving advice. Over a thousand people have drowned in Ireland during the last decade, many of whom were young people. Our hope is that though this short film which ends with a life saved through the Float to Live message, more people will be aware of water safety and will share the message far and wide.

‘The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it is OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety. Practise floating in a supervised location like a swimming pool.’

Read More:

Taoiseach announces award in honor of former SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate John Hume

Man accused of Belfast knife attack that sparked riots appears in court again

How to listen to Cool FM:

Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for music, Cool FM on 97.4FM, online, on our Rayo app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Cool FM’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists, from Pete Snodden in the morning to the NI Hit 40.