LIFEGUARDS on the North Yorkshire coast had to race to the rescue as three members of a family on a body boarding expedition were swept out to sea.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeguards were on patrol on Sandsend beach, near Whitby when they spotted a female bodyboarder who was struggling in the water.

Lifeguard Santiago Cattoni raised the alarm at about 5.45pm on Saturday, July 25 and dashed to the woman’s aid with his rescue board. He paddled out to the woman and found that her husband who was nearby was also in danger and drifting out of the red and yellow safety zone.

He managed to guide the couple to safety in shallower waters and they were able to walk back to the shore.

In the meantime fellow lifeguard Mia Hall found that the couple’s daughter was in difficulty and being dragged under the waves.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, James Turner, said: "The girl was in a very distressed state but Mia managed to calm her down and helped her using a rescue tube, a long yellow flexible tube that casualties can grab onto.”

Back on the beach Mia carried out checks on the family, and advised the mother who was a nurse to look out for breathing difficulties and other problems.

Mr Turner added: "I’m very proud of the lifeguard team for their swift actions and for remaining vigilant and professional during a multiple rescue.”

He said they advise people to swim at lifeguarded beaches and urged anyone who sees someone in difficulty in the water to call for help and not enter the water themselves.