A  COMBINATION of spring tides, large surf, and sunny weather attracting crowds to the beach meant the RNLI lifeguards patrolling the beaches along the North Cornwall coast have had a busy few days, dealing with a series of incidents and rescues — including two fishermen who were rescued at Bude.

Sunday was the busiest day over the weekend, with over 2,000 people on Perranporth beach alone.

Further up the coast in Bude, RNLI lifeguards were also very busy all weekend. On Saturday the RNLI lifeguards on Summerleaze beach rescued two fishermen and their dog from the breakwater after being cut off by the tide, RNLI lifeguards Mini Fry and James Vallance, went out on rescue boards and brought them back all in, including the dog who was a non-swimmer.

Over the weekend, they rescued four young children in two separate incidents from the river mouth where there is a particularly strong current running.

RNLI senior lifeguard Mini Fry said: "People don't realise because the water looks still, but the current is so strong, it will take you away in seconds, especially little children. The lifeguards are constantly advising people not to swim in it."

Again Sunday was the busiest day, in total the RNLI lifeguards on Black Rock, Widemouth, Summerleaze and Crooklets beaches did 37 rescues. On Summerleaze they rescued 12 people on the Rescue Water Craft (RWC) in the space of 10 minutes.

Mini added: "The majority of people on the beach are sensible, swim between the flags, and follow the lifeguards advise to stay within their depth. Spring tides are notoriously fast flowing, as they come in, the water can quickly fill the deep troughs in the sand creating funnels for the water going back out to sea.

"As soon as bathers take their feet of the ground they get swept out of their depth, so it is essential that they stay within the flagged zone so that the lifeguards can see them and respond immediately."