Jersey Lifeguard Rescues Five Swimmers in Just 20 Minutes
- markdarrenwilkinso
- Aug 12
- 1 min read
Heroic Jersey Lifeguard Rescues Five in 20 Minutes Amid Dangerous Rip Currents
A lifeguard in Jersey carried out a remarkable five rescues in just 20 minutes after sudden rip currents swept swimmers out to sea.
According to the RNLI, the drama unfolded at St Ouen on Sunday evening when lifeguards decided to extend their shift due to a busy beach and the rapid formation of “flash rip currents” across the bay.
The rescues were all performed by a single lifeguard patrolling the water on a rescue craft.
Last year, the RNLI assisted nearly 600 people across the Channel Islands, with Jersey lifeguards alone responding to 332 incidents and helping 434 people on local beaches.
The charity stressed that large crowds at the coast are “inevitable in summer” and urged the public to visit lifeguarded beaches.
“Most lifeguard incidents involve rip currents,” the RNLI said. “They can be hard to spot, but sometimes appear as a channel of churning, choppy water moving away from the shore.”
RNLI Advice if Caught in a Rip Current:
Do not swim against the current — you will quickly tire.
If you can stand, wade instead of swimming.
Swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip.
Raise your hand and shout for help.
Anyone who sees a person in difficulty should call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
