Mayday off Trevose Head as six swimmers rescued near Padstow

A “Mayday” crackling over the VHF radio is about as serious as it gets at sea. It is a sign of grave and imminent danger, and it means every vessel within earshot is expected to drop what it is doing and help. That is exactly what happened off Trevose Head on Sunday morning, and it ended with six people pulled safely from the water.

A Mayday call over Barres Bay

At 10.51am on Sunday 16 August, the volunteer team from HM Coastguard Padstow were on their way to a separate incident on Trevose Head when Falmouth Coastguard put out the call over the radio. Six people were in trouble in the water at Barres Bay.

With a Mayday declared, every boat in the area was asked to assist immediately. Three of them were close enough to do exactly that.

Wavehunters, Harlyn lifeguards and a sealife safari boat all answer the call

Wavehunters, the Harlyn lifeguards and Padstow Sealife Safaris all responded to the Mayday, alongside the coastguard’s Rescue Helicopter 924. Between them, the crews recovered all six swimmers safely.

The coastguard has since thanked Wavehunters in particular for sharing its point of view from the rescue, praising the “team effort and swift response” from everyone involved and calling the crews “incredibly brave” for stepping in before the incident had the chance to escalate further. The swimmers, the team said, were very lucky indeed.

The risks of open water swimming, and how to cut them

Open water swimming has grown hugely in popularity in recent years. It is also easy to underestimate what the sea is doing, or overestimate what your own body can cope with once you are in it. If you are heading in off any part of the coast around Padstow or further afield, the coastguard’s advice is worth running through before you go.

• Check the weather forecast and tide times before you leave home.
• Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.
• Check the safety signs and flags around the beach, be aware of any dangers, and know where to enter and exit the water.
• Look out for rip currents.
• Wear a wetsuit to help you stay warm and increase your buoyancy.
• Make yourself more visible: wear a brightly coloured swim hat and use a tow float.
• Ideally swim with a buddy. Have a plan before you enter the water and keep an eye on each other.
• Tell someone where you are going and what time you will be back, especially if you are going alone.
• Acclimatise to cold water slowly, entering gradually to reduce the risk of cold water shock.
• Always swim parallel to the shore, not straight out.
• Swim only in depths you are comfortable in.
• If in doubt, do not go out. If you feel unwell or unsure of the conditions, do not risk it.
• Carry a means of calling for help that you can reach easily in an emergency, such as a Personal Locator Beacon or a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
• Take warm clothes and a hot drink for after your swim, to help you warm up.

None of that is a reason to stay out of the sea. It is a reason to respect it. Six people found that out the hard way off Trevose Head this weekend, and got the ending everyone hopes for.

📷Credit: Wavehunters