An off-duty lifeguard stripped to his underwear and raced into the sea after spotting a swimmer in difficulty during Storm Boelo.
Ryder Taylor, 25, was walking along Langland Bay near Swansea with his girlfriend Ava, 21, who is also a lifeguard, when they noticed the man struggling in the water and raised the alarm.
Without hesitation, Mr Taylor ran to the RNLI hut, seized a rescue board and headed into the crashing waves wearing only his pants.
Local surfer Chris French was already in the water and managed to pull the struggling swimmer onto his board.
Mr Taylor then reached the pair and helped bring them safely back to shore at the popular beauty spot.
Tom John, RNLI lifeguard supervisor for Swansea, said: ‘Ryder and Ava did an incredible job, putting their training and vigilance into action even though they were off duty for the season.
‘They are a fantastic example of our lifeguards, who are always watching out for people in difficulty at the coast.
‘There have been numerous recent incidents involving people getting into difficulty in the water, with local off-duty lifeguards and surfers stepping in to help bring them back to shore.’
Ryder Taylor, 25, was walking along Langland Bay near Swansea when he spotted a man in danger and raised the alarm
Without hesitation, Mr Taylor ran to the RNLI hut for a rescue board before heading into the crashing waves wearing only his pants
Mr Taylor was walking along the beach with his girlfriend and fellow lifeguard Ava, 21 (pictured)
Mr John said there are no RNLI-lifeguarded beaches along the Swansea coastline and urged beachgoers to check tide times and weather conditions before heading out.
The UK was battered by a succession of storms over the weekend, with Storm Boelo following Storm Austen.
Gusts of between 60 and 70mph hit parts of Britain early on Sunday, with the most severe conditions recorded along the coast.
Chris Cousens, regional water safety lead, said: ‘If you are planning to visit the coast during the half-term week or the winter months, check the tide times before setting out. If you do not understand the information in tide tables, ask someone familiar with the area and follow any safety signs.
‘Always take a way to call for help, such as a fully charged mobile phone. If you get into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
‘If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, remember to Float to Live. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and float on your back with your arms and legs spread out like a starfish. Once your breathing is under control, signal for help by shouting and waving.’
The severe weather is not expected to ease completely, with the third named storm of the season potentially approaching.
Storm Chloe is the next available name on the 2026-27 storm list. If conditions intensify enough to trigger an amber or red warning, the Met Office will officially declare that the third storm of the season has arrived.
The Met Office’s amber warning for Storm Boelo ended at 9pm on Sunday after the storm caused widespread disruption over the weekend.
A 60-year-old man was killed after being struck by a fallen tree in Dumfries. It was later confirmed that a man in his 20s had also died after his car was crushed by a falling tree in Mill Hill, north London.
On the Isle of Wight, a 59-year-old woman died after being swept out to sea while walking her dog along the coastal promenade between Sandown and Shanklin.
Two motorists were killed at the scene of a three-vehicle crash in Bathgate, West Lothian, during the height of the storm. The victims were a 20-year-old BMW driver and an 84-year-old man driving a Peugeot.
The Met Office said the series of weather systems affecting the UK was being driven by a jet stream that is ‘particularly active’.
Statistics released by the Energy Networks Association on Sunday showed that around 161,400 homes across the country had been left without power, while more than 800,000 properties had experienced power cuts since Storm Austen arrived.
