Newquay, Cornwall — A quick response by local surfers saved a teenage girl from a dangerous rip current at Fistral Beach, a well-known surf spot on England’s north Cornwall coast.
Around 8 p.m. local time, Danny Riley and his friend, known as Rusty, both 27, were surfing when they noticed someone signaling for help in the water. “We saw someone waving and screaming,” Riley told the BBC. “At first, we thought it was just a swimmer, but the spot looked really dangerous.”
The girl, aged about 15 or 16, had fallen off nearby rocks into the water and was caught in a strong rip current that pushed her toward a rocky area called the “gulley.” Riley described the scene: “She was being thrown over the rocks like in a washing machine.”
Realizing the danger, the surfers immediately paddled toward her. Rusty managed to get the girl onto his surfboard while Riley helped from behind. “Rusty was holding onto the back of my leg as I paddled. It was hectic,” Riley said. “Maybe not the perfect rescue, but we got her out safely.”
The Newquay Boardriders club praised the surfers’ bravery on Instagram: “Hats off to you for stepping up and making a solid rescue at the north gulley last night. She would have been gone for sure without these boys.”
Thanks to the swift actions of these local surfers, the teen was pulled from the dangerous currents and brought to safety.