Lifeguards Rescue Cliff Fall Men

From the Newquay Voice Newspaper, Newquay Cornwall UK

RNLI lifeguards from Mawgan Porth have assisted in the rescue of two men who fell while climbing down cliffs near Bedruthan Steps on the north Cornish coast this afternoon (Sunday 13 July 2008).

The RNLI team helped locate the casualties, and coordinate the emergency service response, as well as providing medical assistance to one of the men.RNLI Senior lifeguard Dave Betts and his colleague Sam Cleasby offered to respond to the incident when they heard initial reports on the VHR radio. They were close to the scene and able to go immediately in the RNLI inshore rescue boat (IRB) stationed at Mawgan Porth. On arrival at the scene they found one man who had fallen to the bottom of the cliffs and another who was stuck around 25 metres up the rock face. They then worked alongside a coastguard cliff team and the helicopter from RNAS Culdrose to successfully rescue the two men.
Dave Betts, RNLI Senior Lifeguard at Mawgan Porth says teamwork ensured the incident ended happily ‘The man who had fallen to the bottom of the cliffs had suffered minor injuries and was complaining of back pain. We were able to care for him, as well as providing reassurance for the man stuck further up the cliff,” he said. “The injured man was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in Truro, but only after the aircrew had rescued the man above us, and a third man. Those two were taken to the beach and we then transferred them to Mawgan Porth in the RNLI inshore rescue boat. “The RNLI provide us with extensive training and today we put it into practise, providing first aid and working as part of a successful rescue team. “It is thanks to the charity we work for, that we were able to respond so quickly and efficiently.”

Well done Sam! 

In a magnificent show of true talent yesterday, Samantha Iten won the gold medal in the women's short board riding at the SLSWA State Board Riding Championships and also won the silver medal in the long board riding event (Sam has never surfed on a long board before!). Her brother, Tim Iten also performed brilliantly to win the silver medal in the men's short board event.

Congratulations on such a fantastic effort!