THE lifeboat was launched from Bude at 11.45am on Tuesday following a report of three people on boogie boards caught in a rip at Sandymouth.

The lifeboat launched into a choppy, cold sea at low tide and was on the scene within six minutes. The casualties, two adult males and a teenage boy visiting the area from Shropshire, were lifted into the boat and taken ashore at Sandy­mouth where they were reunited with their families.

A spokesman for Bude Lifeboat explained that the adults had tied the leash of the teenager's board to theirs to stay together as a group which was "the sensible thing to do."

The Bude coastguard checked the casualties on the beach to see if they needed medical attention and they were all deemed fit.

The lifeboat spokesman said: "We ask the public, especially in this half term week, to be very aware of dangerous sea conditions before entering the water as there is no lifeguard cover at this time."