The woman was exhausted and caught in a rip current when RNLI lifeguards got to her (Pic: RNLI)

AN EXHAUSTED woman who was dragged out from a beach in a rip current was moments from disappearing under water when RNLI lifeguards came to her rescue.

Two young children were also saved from the fast flowing current in a multi-agency rescue on Tuesday afternoon (Jul 21) which saw RNLI lifeguards, two RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard, paramedics and the Wales Air Ambulance helicopter all involved.

The woman had attempted to come to the aid of the two young children who were being pulled away from the shore in the current at Newgale beach in Pembrokeshire.

But after the two children were brought back to the safety of the shore by an RNLI lifeguard, the woman – a 30-year-old holidaymaker – got into serious difficulty in the big waves and high winds of Tuesday afternoon.

RNLI lifeguards from the south end of Newgale beach initially entered the water and rescued the children, before an Arancia inshore rescue boat from the nearby Newgale North Beach Lifeguard Unit arrived just in time to pull the woman from the sea before she went under.

RNLI Senior Lifeguard Manager Matt Horton, who was at Newgale carrying out a routine beach inspection as the rescue happened, said it was only the swift and decisive actions of the RNLI lifeguards which ensured the positive outcome.

He said: ‘What our lifeguards did today has saved the life of a woman and likely the lives of two young children as well. The woman was moments from going under the water and if it was not for the speed of the lifeguards’ actions,  the speed of the flank lifeguard unit in launching the rescue boat and the skill they showed handling the boat in difficult sea conditions to bring the woman on board, there could have been a very different outcome.’

The rescue happened at about 4.20pm when RNLI lifeguards spotted three people in trouble in the water and a fourth signalling for help.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Stuart Penfold and lifeguards Sean Ellison and Sean Williams called for the assistance of the rescue boat from their flank unit and entered the water. Stuart swam towards the two children with a rescue tube and brought them into safety and reunited them with their families.

Sean and Sean tried to reach the woman on rescue boards but difficult sea condition meant the inshore rescue boat was better equipped to reach her quickly.

Such was the seriousness of the woman’s condition RNLI lifeguards Sam Ellison and Moritz Neumann, who were operating the rescue boat, had to adapt their standard procedure in big surf conditions and hold on to the woman despite waves crashing onto the boat. They got her aboard and brought her back to the beach, where she was given oxygen and treatment for secondary drowning and was passed over to HM Coastguard staff and paramedics.

The two rescued children were given warmth, rest and reassurance by the RNLI lifeguards.

All three were taken to hospital by paramedics for check-ups but it was not thought their injuries were serious.

The volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew from Little & Broad Haven was tasked by HM Coastguard at 4.30pm and carried out a sweep of Newgale to check for any other further casualties. St Davids RNLI lifeboat was also called but stood down on arrival. The Wales Air Ambulance helicopter also arrived at Newgale but was not required.

Stuart Penfold added: ‘We have seen a number of incidents where people have got into difficulty trying to rescue others in trouble in the sea. Often it is those who try to help who end up coming off worse.

‘We would always advise people to swim at lifeguarded beaches and report anyone in trouble to lifeguards, who are fully trained in how to deal with emergency situations.

‘We want people to enjoy the water over the school holidays but to make sure that they respect it – that’s why our charity has launched its annual Respect the Water campaign to help people stay safe at the coast.’