RNLI Lifeguards and Surf Lifesaving Club Members Assist Injured Teenager

A 15-year-old surf lifesaver, who suffered a blow to the head from a surfboard was given emergency assistance by off-duty Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguards and members of Mumbles Lifeguard Club at Caswell Bay, Swansea, on Friday 16 July.

An air ambulance was called for the casualty but not eventually used, after the youngster was evacuated to hospital by road ambulance to hospital, where he was kept in overnight.

The incident occurred at 6.30pm, as members of Mumbles Lifeguard Club were training in two to three feet, messy surf at Caswell Bay.

A 15-year-old member of the club was hit accidentally on the back of his head by a surfboard.

The youngster was suffering from shock as he was carried out of the water by members of the surf lifesaving club – adults and children – who used a rescue board as a stretcher to carry the casualty onto the beach.

RNLI Area Lifeguard Supervisor Tom Burgess called the Wales Air Ambulance and Coastguard, while other RNLI lifeguards fetched a spinal board and a medical responder bag from the RNLI lifeguard unit at Caswell Bay.

The casualty was then taken to the top of the beach on a spinal board and was given oxygen until a road ambulance arrived.

At this stage, the Wales Air Ambulance also arrived and checked on the casualty for any possible spinal injuries, but it was agreed that the casualty could proceed to hospital by road.

RNLI supervisor Tom Burgess said: ‘Even in relatively small surf, and in an environment where there are trained lifesavers present, there can still be unexpected hazards out in the water.

'This was a good combined effort by all involved to assist this casualty and get him to hospital quickly. Although RNLI lifeguards had finished their shift at Caswell Bay that day, they, along with RNLI Area Lifeguard Supervisor, Chris Vaughan, who was on a day off but at the beach, to ensure the casualty received the highly professional first-responder service that the RNLI provides.

‘RNLI lifeguards were ably assisted by keen young members of Mumbles Lifeguard Club and we are sure that some of them will become RNLI lifeguards in the future.’