A 34-YEAR-OLD man was airlifted to the North Devon Hospital in Barnstable last Thursday (September 9) at around 3pm. A spokesperson for the RNLI explained that the man had been swimming at mid-tide and was at waist depth when he collapsed nearshore and put his hand in the air. The lifeguards ran over to assist the man who was then treated for a spinal injury. The two lifeguards Eddie Kennard and Will Laghlin assisted the man along with their supervisor, Mini Fry, who was off duty. As the man was involved in a road traffic collision three years ago an air ambulance was called and spinal injury procedure carried out as a precautionary measure. Paramedics also attended. A spokesperson added: "The man was very calm and didn't seem worried."