In brief: Three RNLI lifeguards have been praised for a skilful and courageous rescue of a wing foiler caught in dangerous conditions near El Tico on 26 October, just days before Jersey’s beach patrol season ended. The team chose not to enter the water themselves, instead directing the man to safety before one lifeguard grabbed him from the stairs while being struck by large waves.
A Race Against Tide, Darkness and Surf
It was the kind of evening that reminds you the sea around Jersey does not care about your plans. On 26 October, RNLI lifeguards Ollie Gould, Jean Barbe-Pinel and Nathan Elms were monitoring a wing foiler who had drifted to around 400 metres offshore near El Tico, according to Bailiwick Express. As they watched, conditions deteriorated rapidly: the rising tide was cutting off access points, visibility was fading after sunset, and large waves were striking the seawall and generating powerful backwash.
The team faced a decision that tests the nerve of any rescue professional. Entering the water, they assessed, would place them in unacceptable danger and could compromise the rescue entirely. So instead of going in, they directed the wing foiler from shore, instructing him to detach from his equipment and time his approach to a set of stairs between waves.
As the man reached the seawall, Ollie Gould took up position on the stairs and grabbed him, holding on through several large waves until the wing foiler was safely out of the water. The St Helier all-weather lifeboat and Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, both of which had been called to the scene, were subsequently stood down.
Calm Heads Praised by RNLI
Jake Elms, the RNLI’s lead lifeguard supervisor for Jersey, was fulsome in his praise. “The team continually assessed the situation as conditions changed and made calm decisions throughout,” he said. “Choosing not to enter the water was the safest option for everyone involved, and their ability to adapt their rescue plan ultimately helped bring the casualty safely ashore.”
The rescue came near the close of what Jake Elms described as one of the team’s busiest seasons on record, with heatwaves drawing large numbers to Jersey’s beaches alongside periods of challenging weather and storms. “Our team has worked tirelessly to keep beachgoers safe and have responded brilliantly to everything the season has thrown at them,” he added. Seasonal lifeguard cover on all Jersey beaches ended on 1 November.
A Timely Reminder as the Season Closes
With the lifeguards now stood down for winter, the RNLI is urging watersports enthusiasts to plan carefully and to avoid entering the sea close to or after dark. Reduced visibility makes conditions harder to judge and, critically, makes people far more difficult for emergency services to locate. Beachgoers are also being reminded never to enter the water alone.
Anyone who sees someone in trouble in the water should call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
Source: Bailiwick Express
