RNLI lifeguards from Gwithian Beach rescued a man trapped in a cave on Saturday afternoon in the water off Godrevy Point.

After the man’s mother made a 999 call to the Coastguard, concerned that her son was in danger, Gwithian lifeguards, Josh Daniel and Sara Rowe, leapt into action and headed to the scene on their rescue water craft.

The lifeguards located the isolated headland quickly, but due to the size of the surf, the rescue water craft was unable to get closer to the rocks. Sara swam in towards the cave with a rescue tube and fins. With the assistance of the casualty’s mother, who was shouting and signalling from the rocks above, Sara spotted the man at the mouth of the cave; swam to him and clipped him into the rescue tube to bring him to safety.

The lifeguards found that the man, in his twenties, was cold and scratched from his efforts to climb out of the cave, but otherwise uninjured. Josh and Sara then transported him to safety using the sled on the back of the rescue water craft.

Sara, lifeguard supervisor, said: "When the call came in from the Coastguard, I had my wetsuit on already so we immediately set off to help. The tide was coming in and the man was in real danger in rough conditions, unable to climb up the slippery rocks above him and getting repeatedly washed off his feet in the incoming tide."

Reunited, the casualty and his family expressed their gratitude to the lifeguards who were also congratulated for their bravery by members of the public who had witnessed the rescue.

Sara added: "We encourage people to respect the water and check local hazards and safety information before setting out as it’s easy to get caught out by unexpected tides and waves."

Thanks to the speedy and successful response of the Gwithian lifeguards, the St Ives lifeboat, the Coastguard helicopter and the Coastguard rescue team were all stood down.