RNLI Silver Medals to be awarded to Trebarwith Lifeguards Chris and John

It was announced today that Trebarwith Strand Lifeguards Chris Boundy and John Dugard are to be awarded RNLI Silver Medals for Gallantry after saving the life of an angler in treacherous sea conditions. The RNLI press release is shown below:

The RNLI is to award the charity’s Silver Medal for Gallantry to two senior lifeguards, Chris Boundy and John Dugard (both aged 20), after they saved the life of a sea angler who fell from rocks into dangerous water at Trebarwith Strand in Cornwall on Saturday 28 June 2008. They will be the first RNLI lifeguards to receive the Silver Medal, the RNLI’s second-highest award for gallantry.

The medals are to be awarded for the lifeguards’ selfless disregard for their own safety in treacherous conditions when there was a clear risk to their lives, and for their skill and expert judgement as the casualty was resuscitated.

Chris and John entered the sea in an area known locally as the ‘the washing machine’, notorious for its treacherous currents, to rescue Yorkshireman David Nicklin, who had slipped and fallen from rocks while fishing. Chris, on foot patrol, was the first to respond to shouts for help. He spotted a person lying unconscious; face down in the water, being repeatedly washed against the rocks. Chris immediately radioed John for back-up before entering the water with a rescue tube, and John went immediately to assist his colleague.

Using their local knowledge, the RNLI lifeguards used the surge of the sea and breaks in the waves to reach the casualty and then swim him 60 metres out of the ‘washing machine’, through strong currents and around the rocks into the main beach gully, where, finally assisted by a large wave, they got the casualty to the shore and began resuscitation procedures.

Steve Instance, RNLI Lifeguard Inspector says;

‘Both Chris and John showed enormous courage and water skills during this rescue. Trebarwith Strand beach disappears at high tide so the area is often closed to swimmers due to the hazardous conditions around the rocky gullies. On the day of the rescue a four-foot swell was breaking onto the rocks and sea conditions were extremely treacherous. I have no doubt that if, despite considerable personal risk, the lifeguards had not entered the water the casualty would not have survived.

‘The rescue was made even more dangerous when Mr Nicklin’s fishing tackle entangled both him and Chris, making it hard for Chris to keep them both above water. As a result Chris took several painful knocks as the surging waves threw him against the rocks. Thankfully, when John arrived he saw Chris struggling and used a gap in the waves to jump in. John then held Mr Nicklin’s head above water and Chris was able to untangle the fishing lines.’

For their part in the rescue, a couple on holiday in the area, Ian and Jane Watkins, from Broadstairs in Kent, are to be presented with a framed letter of thanks signed by RNLI Chairman, Admiral the Lord Boyce. Mr Watkins had called for the ambulance and, together with his wife and a local surfer, helped the lifeguards move the casualty further up the beach, where they could assess his condition. Mr Nicklin was not breathing and there were no signs of life.

Chris, John and Mrs Watkins, who is a trained nurse, commenced numerous cycles of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Mr Nicklin until they were eventually rewarded with signs of life. Both lifeguards displayed courage and judgement when they made the unanimous decision not to use the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restart Mr Nicklin’s heart after they were sure they could detect signs of life.

They administered oxygen and together constantly monitored his condition until the paramedics arrived and took over. The job was still not over for the RNLI lifeguards, who then worked with the Coastguard team to clear a safe area to enable the casualty to be winched into a Royal Navy Sea King rescue helicopter, which flew him to hospital. Mr Nicklin recovered from his ordeal and was discharged three days later, fit and well.

Graham Ferguson, a paramedic from South Western Ambulance Service, who attended the scene was impressed with the lifeguards’ skill in resuscitating the casualty in such extreme conditions.

Graham explains:

‘I cannot begin to express the admiration I have for these two incredibly brave and highly professional lifeguards. Their skill and resourcefulness has not only saved his life, but has allowed him to recover fully and completely.’

After recovering from his ordeal, the casualty, David Nicklin praised his rescuers:

'I'm so pleased to hear that John and Chris are being recognised with this award, which they thoroughly deserve. They are two wonderful young men who did an amazing job. Without John and Chris I’d be dead. I can’t thank them enough – it’s impossible – because life is so precious and you’re a long time dead.'

To see the full article on the RNLI website please visit here.