A WOMAN who was rescued from the sea at Newgale has personally thanked the lifeguards who saved her life.

Cathy Brown recently met lifeguard Scott Riches – two weeks after she and two others were rescued from a rip current by Scott and fellow lifeguard Josh Brown.

Cathy, 24, of Whitland, was swimming with brother Daryl, friend Bex Hulme and her brother Tom when the group got into difficulty outside of the flagged swimming area.

Daryl managed to get to shore and raise the alarm as Cathy, Tom and Bex were swept out. With the help of surfers, Scott and Josh paddled to them and brought them safely to shore.

Cathy said she had ‘feared the worst’ and wanted to share her story so others will be more aware of beach safety.

She said: “The waves were really big and kept breaking over my head. I was swimming as hard as I could just to keep afloat and it was so tiring.

“Before long I saw the lifeguard coming towards me on a rescue board. There was big surf but he reached me and reassured me straight away.

“I was still so scared but the lifeguard was amazing, talking to me the whole time and being really calm.”

Tom was in the most serious condition and was treated by lifeguards before being taken to hospital by ambulance. He has since made a full recovery. Cathy and Bex were assessed as they had swallowed water, but they did not need hospital treatment.

Lifeguard Scott said: “We don’t carry out rescues for recognition, but it was great that Cathy came down to visit us on the beach. We were glad to have been able to help her and her friends and family.”