RNLI lifeguards have rescued two children and two adults who had been thrown into the water after their boat capsized.

Lifeguards at Sedgewell Cove, Bigbury-on-Sea, leapt into action on Sunday, August 19. RNLI lifeguard David Tunbridge was training in the water on a rescue board when he noticed the boat making its way out of the river Avon.

Upon seeing the three foot choppy surf, the occupants of the boat had decided to turn back in towards the river. As they did so, a large wave caught the boat as it was side on, capsizing the vessel. This threw the two adults into the sea and left the two children, aged eight and nine, trapped beneath the vessel’s hull.

Dave immediately paddled over to the vessel and, seeing that the two children were trapped, dived under the boat to help them whilst the two adult casualties hung onto it. With the help of a surfer who had watched the incident unfold, Dave reassured the children, as they had become very confused and scared, and then brought them back out to safety.

Whilst doing so, RNLI lifeguard Rosie Lawrence had paddled over and had requested the assistance of the inshore rescue boat from Bantham beach. Dave and Rosie then helped colleagues Alistair Williams and Emily Lawrence in getting the four casualties into the IRB where they were taken to safety ashore.

Chris Rampling, RNLI lifeguard supervisor for the area, said: “This is a prime example of an incident where wearing a lifejacket can save your life. All four casualties were wearing lifejackets that inflated as soon as they entered the water which kept them afloat until help arrived.

“Had they not been wearing these, the outcome could have been very different.

“The RNLI advises that anyone planning a trip out on a boat always wears an appropriate lifejacket or buoyancy aid and always carry a means of calling for help.”