Joanna Hicks, a swimmer caught in a rip current at Newgale Beach, was rescued by RNLI lifeguard Matty Mcleod. She was found unresponsive, airlifted to the hospital, and spent ten days in intensive care. The reunion at the beach was emotional for both, with Ms Hicks expressing gratitude for her rescue and newfound respect for the sea's unpredictability. The RNLI emphasizes that swimming safety is crucial, especially since drowning risks increase in warmer weather, with July often seeing more incidents.
"I suddenly found myself out of my depth and being swept away," she said. Her friends called 999, and emergency services quickly arrived, but "fortunately, Matty was the first to find me and pull me out".
"I just thought, if that were my mum, I'd want someone to do the same," he said.
Reflecting on the experience, Ms Hicks added: "I'm much more appreciative of the fact that the sea is a very unpredictable place and anybody could be caught unaware."
The RNLI warned that the risk of accidental drowning is five times higher during warmer weather, with July seeing a spike in deaths.
Collection
[
|
...
]