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Beachgoers Link Arms And Form Incredible Human Chain To Save Man

Beachgoers Link Arms And Form Incredible Human Chain To Save Man

People initially thought the swimmer was waving but he was being swept out to sea

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

This is the incredible moment beachgoers formed a huge human chain to drag two people to safety in a dramatic rescue:

A swimmer had been in the water just off a Dorset beach when he began to struggle against the tide. He tried to swim back to shore, but was halted by exposed 20mph winds and enormous waves crashing well over his head.

The man, believed to be aged in his 30s, began frantically waving and shouting for help. After initially thinking he was waving, about 30 people rushed to the water's edge and linked arms.

Before finally making it to the stricken swimmer, rescuers attempted to throw a body board and a lifeguards' rope out to him.

In one particularly dramatic moment, a beachgoer tried to run out to the man himself but he too was blown away by the wind.

BNPS

After a battle of around two minutes, those within the chain were able to reach both casualties and bring them safely back to the beach.

Eye-witness Emily Foote, 27, a teacher from Bridport, Dorset said: "We got there at about nine in the morning and this guy had been in and out of the water quite a few times throughout the morning. He seemed to know what he was doing and was probably about 50ft out for the most part.

"At around midday the winds picked up and that's when he started struggling. He managed to get closer and was pretty much just at the point where the waves broke but he couldn't get back.

"Every now and then there was just a freak wave that stopped him getting back and he ended up just frantically waving for help. Loads of people just sprinted to the sea and formed this chain but they were being battered by the waves too.

"The foam was like a washing machine and at one point I thought we were going to end up with 10 casualties in the sea rather than just one."

BNPS/Emily Foote

She added: "They tried throwing things out to him but they kept being blown back and one guy even attempted to run straight to him with a buoyancy aid on a string. He ended up going under the water himself and had to be rescued as well as the swimmer.

"People kept being knocked back and by the end there were probably about 30 people trying to help. With every attempt they got a little bit closer and were finally able to reach him.

"The whole beach applauded when the two men got back and they didn't need any help from paramedics or anything like that. I've never seen the beach like that and full credit has to go to everyone who risked their own lives to save the swimmer."

BNPS

The coastguard has issued a safety warning following yesterday afternoon's (20 August) incident urging people not to swim in the sea at the spot where there have been several deaths in recent years.

A Lulworth Coastguard spokesman said: "We were pleased to hear that the rescuer and the casualty were both recovered and were able to walk away.

"With the large waves and spring tides of late, we strongly discourage sea swimming and playing around in the surf, especially on exposed beaches such as Durdle Door. The undertow is very powerful and will have no trouble taking you off your feet."

Featured Image Credit: BNPS

Topics: UK News, News, UK, UK News, News, UK