Two British brothers were rescued after being trapped in a powerful rip current off the coast of Tynemouth, a well-known surfing destination in northeast England.
On Saturday, May 17, 21-year-old Euan and 19-year-old Andrew rented surfboards and headed into the water amid five-foot waves. However, strong northerly winds pushed the pair into a nearby rip current, a near-permanent hazard located at the southern end of the mile-long beach, according to reports by the BBC.
Andrew was the first to become caught in the current just as Euan returned to shore to swap boards. “I did not really know what was going on,” Andrew told the BBC. “I was going full pelt and not getting anywhere.”
Seeing his brother in distress, Euan paddled back to assist but soon found himself trapped as well. “It was like trying to swim on a treadmill,” he said. Both men were pulled steadily further out to sea and quickly understood the seriousness of their situation.
The brothers eventually became separated. Andrew managed to reach some nearby rocks, while Euan continued to be carried away by the current. “I was completely helpless,” Euan said. “No matter how hard or long I swam, there was no chance of fighting this.”
Onlookers on the beach noticed the struggle and immediately called for emergency assistance. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) team from Cullercoats launched their rescue vessel, Daddy’s Girl, arriving on the scene within 11 minutes. They successfully located Euan and brought him aboard before returning to shore where Andrew was waiting.
“We were in shock,” Euan recalled. Andrew added, “I do not think either of us processed what we had been through.”
The RNLI continues to remind beachgoers and surfers to be vigilant about the risks posed by rip currents, especially in popular coastal areas like Tynemouth.
