Lifeguard praised for sea rescue

A lifeguard has been praised following the rescue of four canoeists in the sea off Pembrokeshire.

Two adults and two teenage girls got into difficulty off Newport beach, with two canoes capsizing in poor weather at around 1230 BST on Saturday.

The lifeguard put one girl onto rocks in a cove for safety while he swam back to help another girl and then swam out to help the adults on a drifting canoe.

He then joined an inshore lifeboat crew to pick up the girl from the rocks.

Coastguards said his "prompt and professional actions undoubtedly prevented the outcome of the incident being far more serious."

Hypothermia

Fishguard and Cardigan lifeboats were called out to complete the rescue.

All four canoeists, who were suffering from hypothermia, were assessed by paramedics at Fishguard harbour but were allowed to return to Newport.

A Milford Haven coastguard spokesman said they could not stress enough that in the weather conditions "to set to sea in a canoe was indeed an accident waiting to happen".

They advised people to always check weather forecasts before going out and not to attempt water sports without professional training.