Busy weekend for emergency services on land and water

Monday 24 August 2015

RNLI lifeguards at St Ouen rescued seven people on Saturday after they got into difficulty in strong rip currents.

Meanwhile Jersey Ambulance said they had a busy weekend, dealing with 65 urgent and emergency calls.

The St Ouen lifeguards were afloat on the rescue watercraft for three hours guiding bathers away from the rip currents and back into the red and yellow flagged area.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Will Glenn said: ‘With temperatures in the high 20’s the beaches were very busy over the weekend and there were a lot of people in the water. Lifeguards rescued a number of bodyboarders and surfers who got caught in rip currents and brought them safely back to the shore.

"The rip currents at St Ouen’s can be very strong at times. We would advise that people talk to the lifeguards on duty about the sea conditions before going into the water and remember to swim or bodyboard between the red and yellow flags.

"If you become caught in a rip current on a bodyboard, stay with your board, wave your hand and the lifeguards will come to assist."

RNLI lifeguards were also first on the scene to help the 15 year old girl who was injured while coasteering on Sunday. She fell around 10 metres from a cliff top at St Brelade's Bay landing on rocks below. 

The RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign is running throughout the summer. To find out more about the dangers of the coast and how to stay safe, visit www.rnli.org/respectthewater