BUDE Coastguard Rescue Team was paged just after 6.30pm last Friday evening, following the report of a surfer cut off by the tide just north of Sandymouth beach.

The incident saw the coastguard rescue helicopter, Rescue 924, tasked, as well as Bude Lifeboat, to provide observance cover from the water.

The first members of Bude Coastguard Rescue Team to arrive immediately liaised with the Bude lifeguards and lifeguard supervisor who had raised the alarm and were already on scene, and monitored the casualty, who had climbed onto a ledge to escape the tide from the clifftop.

With the rest of the team and the coastguard rescue vehicle arriving on scene at the same time as Rescue 924, immediate crowd control was undertaken and a position was quickly established within which Bude Coastguard Rescue Team could create and manage a helicopter landing site safely.

Following a successful winch rescue, and a medical assessment by the paramedic aboard Rescue 924, it was confirmed that the casualty did not need further medical assistance at hospital.

Rescue 924 then proceeded to land within the helicopter landing site, and the casualty was recovered to members of Bude Coastguard Rescue Team.

Following a final welfare check, the casualty was then released to his friends to return home.

The quick actions of the Bude lifeguards meant that all the necessary rescue assets were tasked before the casualty’s extremely precarious situation worsened, and ultimately led to a happy outcome.