Lifeguards on Perranporth beach helped save the life of a two-year-old girl on Sunday (22 June) after she was pulled from the water unconscious. 

At 1.10pm on Sunday, RNLI lifeguards Margh Brewer, Robin Howell, Steven Gregory, Sam Chamberlain, Mitch Coldicutt and Supervisor Ben Gardiner were carrying out their normal operations on the busy beach when they were alerted to an incident.

The lifeguards had cleared a dangerous part of the beach known as ‘the gap’, and erected a sign advising people not to swim there. The tide can flow in a strong fixed rip current in that area, so bathing is not advised.

While looking across to check the area approximately 150m away, Robin saw a young man waving and running, so responded immediately.

The man had brought ashore a two-and-a-half year old girl who was found face down in shallow water. The girl was unconscious and not responding so he began giving emergency first aid, as he was trained.

Arriving on scene, Robin immediately began to help and was joined by RNLI lifeguards Stevie Gregory and Sam Chamberlain in the spare patrol vehicle and then by Ben Gardiner on the all-terrain vehicle.

Because of the incoming tide the lifeguards had to move her up the beach twice. An off-duty nurse and a local paramedic were also on scene to offer their assistance.

Between them, the lifeguards provided emergency casualty care to the young girl until the arrival of paramedics. She was taken to Treliske Hospital by ambulance in a conscious state.

During the incident, information was relayed to Perranporth Ops Room manned by Mitch Coldicutt who called for an ambulance, and Margh Brewer remained on duty patrolling between the red and yellow flags throughout.

Ben Gardiner, RNLI lifeguard supervisor, said: "The young man who initially retrieved the girl showed a fantastic initial response to the terrible event and his quick thinking meant she received medical treatment as soon as possible. The lifeguards acted with the highest levels of professionalism and competence to help the young girl. We wish her a full and speedy recovery."