Three airlifted after rescue from rip tide

Three young beachgoers needed hospital treatment after becoming trapped in a rip current.

RNLI lifeguards responded to a call from Falmouth Coastguard at 1.45pm yesterday after reports that four people were struggling in the water off Little Fistral, Newquay.

The two young French girls and two British men were being swept away by the current and swallowing a lot of water.

One of the men managed to get himself out of the water by the rocks and did not need attention, while the other three had been helped in by two bodyboarders.

RNLI lifeguards administered oxygen to one of the casualties before a Coastguard helicopter airflifted them to hospital for treatment.

Lifeguard supervisor Lewis Timson said: “There is quite a rip current that runs out by the rocks towards the Cribber on Little Fistral, which is where they found themselves in difficulty.

“We’re hopeful the three casualties who were airlifted make a full recovery.”