Gorran Haven fisherman rescues struggling swimmer off Mevagissey

The sea off Mevagissey looked calm enough from the sand on Tuesday. Families were paddling, boats were coming in and out of the harbour, and the water was busy with swimmers making the most of the heat. Somewhere out beyond the beach, one of them was in real trouble.

What happened

Mevagissey Coastguard Team and Fowey RNLI were paged at 11.05am to reports of a person in difficulty in the water. The casualty was unwell and holding onto a pontoon off the beach, unable to get themselves back to shore.

A local Gorran Haven fisherman passing at the time was waved down. He diverted, reached the casualty and brought them in to the beach before the lifeboat arrived. With the person safely ashore, the RNLI crew were stood down.

The Coastguard team stayed on. The casualty was still unwell and had potentially swallowed seawater, so the team carried out an assessment on the beach. After that, the casualty was handed into the care of family with medical and safety advice.

The photograph above was taken on Tuesday, just after the rescue.

Why calm-looking water catches people out

Conditions in the bay were described as lively, the kind that will tire even a strong swimmer quickly. That is the part that is easy to miss from the beach. Water that looks flat can be moving hard underneath, and it does not take long for a swimmer to go from comfortable to exhausted, especially if they are already feeling unwell.

The Coastguard’s point is a blunt one. It is very easy to overestimate your own ability and to underestimate the sea. On Tuesday the outcome was a good one, but it turned on a fisherman happening to be passing at the right moment.

Staying safe in the water this summer

If you are heading into the sea while the hot weather holds, the advice from the Coastguard is straightforward.

Do not go in alone. Take a flotation device with you. Stay within your comfort zone and do not push past it because the water looks inviting.

The Coastguard says the sea has reportedly claimed up to 40 lives around the country since the hot weather began in May. Tuesday could very easily have added to that count if the fisherman had not been passing.

The Mevagissey Coastguard Team remains on call 365 days a year to respond to emergencies on the coast.

📷Credit: Mevagissey Coastguard