LIFEGUARDS were kept busy last week at Widemouth — rescuing two bodyboarders and 11 people caught in a flash rip current.

Last Thursday, September 1, RNLI lifeguards at Widemouth beach sprang into action just after noon when they spotted two bodyboarders in difficulty in large dumping waves outside the flagged zone.

RNLI lifeguards Ian Burges and Billy Roberts grabbed rescue boards and paddled out to the father and son who were drifting further out to sea.

The lifeguards pulled both casualties on to their boards, but due to the nearby rocks and large waves, they had to paddle further out to find a safer route back to the shore.

Lifeguards managed to get both the casualties back to shore safely, where they advised the man to attend hospital for further checks.

No sooner had the lifeguards reached the shore when they were called into action again when a flash rip current dragged 11 people out to sea.

Lifeguard Billy jumped on the rescue board again, while the inshore rescue boat (IRB) was launched and further lifeguards from nearby Blackrock beach were called in to assist in the mass rescue.

Six people were rescued from the sea by the IRB and a further four were given advice by lifeguards and managed to make their own way back to the shore. Billy brought the last casualty in on the rescue board.

Billy said: “It was one of the most difficult rescues I have carried out in six years of lifeguarding. The surf was so big that we had to paddle out further to be able to get a safe route back to the beach.

“I had barely reached the shore with the first casualty when I was straight back in to help those caught in the rip current. The lifeguard team worked together quickly to make sure everyone was brought back safely.

“Conditions can change quickly at the coast, so it is really important to swim and bodyboard at lifeguarded beaches, so you know the safe areas to enter the water and can raise the alarm if you do get into difficulty.”