Teenage girl taken to hospital after being pulled from water by lifeguards on Sunderland beach

RNLI lifeguards were making their way down the steps to Seaburn beach at around 9.45am this morning, Tuesday, July 7, when they spotted a group of people on the sand and what looked like a ball bobbing in the sea.

As they got nearer, they realised it was a person in difficulty. The girl’s three friends had managed to get out of the sea and had got a life ring which a man had then tried to take out to the 15-year-old.

RNLI senior lifeguard Aaron Curle and fellow lifeguards Chris Trotter and Aidan Mitchell asked a member of the public to raise the alarm by calling the Coastguard and an ambulance.

Aaron then dashed into to sea and swam out through the breaking waves and took the life ring from the man after ensuring he man was able to get out of the water safely.

On reaching the girl, Aaron realised she was in great difficulty and was struggling to keep her face out of the water. He advised her to float on her back and adopt the RNLI-recommended Float To Live position, lying on her back, then managed to tow her to shore.

He was met by his fellow lifeguards and performed a casualty care check on the teenager and wrapped her in blankets.

The local Coastguard team performed further first-aid checks and provided extra blankets before the girl was handed over to North East Ambulance Service paramedics.

“There were some big waves at Seaburn today and, after initially thinking in was a ball in the water, we quickly swung into action to rescue the teenager,” said Aaron.

“She was really struggling to keep her head above water after losing her footing and being swept out. We’re so pleased we were able to rescue the girl and bring her to safety.

‘It was a real team effort today and I’d like to thank the member of the public who raised the alarm, the man who swam out with the life ring and the Coastguards and Paramedics’.

Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Team and South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade were also called. The inshore lifeboat was launched but stood down.

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