A STORE’S staff were praised by the coastguard service after looking after the team while they dealt with an emergency situation.

HM Coastguard Padstow were called to assist the RNLI lifeguards at Portcothan who were attending a casualty who had become unwell on the beach during the day of August 7.

The team from the coastguard got involved in order to assist the lifeguards with the response to the unwell patient which in turn allowed the RNLI to restore their full team in their work to keep other beach goers safe during the busy summer season.

Also in attendance at the scene was a local first responder who assisted the lifeguards and HM Coastguard Padstow team in taking care of the person until the paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) was able to arrive at the scene.

The person was then escorted to the ambulance in order to be assessed by the paramedics, with the coastguards returning to base after handing them over.

During their time responding to the individual, the HM Coastguard said they were taken care of themselves by staff at Portcothan Bay Stores.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard Padstow said: “Tasking to assist the RNLI Lifeguards at Porthcothan with a casualty that had become unwell on the beach.

“The team met with the lifeguards for a handover. With us on scene, the lifeguards could then get back to their full team keeping beach-goers safe.

“A local first responder also attended. The casualty was monitored until the ambulance arrived. The team then escorted the casualty to the ambulance to be assessed by the paramedics.

“Once the casualty was in the care of the ambulance, the team was stood down and returned to base.

“Thank you to Porthcothan Bay Stores for looking after the team, we really appreciate your kindness!”