Aussie Lifeguards at Watergate Bay

This report from 1963 by Terry Fleet, who plays the part of the rescued swimmer, highlights a small phenomenon. Australians Bob Head and Ian Tiley were two of four lifeguarding surfers patrolling the Newquay beaches that summer. Together with John Campbell and Warren Mitchell they had been lured to surfing in North Cornwall in April 1962. Surfers from California, South Africa and Australia heard about Atlantic surf breaks and Newquay appeared on the surfer's map.

Modern surfboards from Malibu and Sydney came with the influx of world surfers and as local demand grew, surfboard manufacturers sprung up. Bob Head helped set up Bilbo surfboards in 1965 and the company is still going strong. The experience of these early surfers turned lifeguards proved invaluable and helped set the safety standards for pleasure seekers on British beaches. Bob and Ian explain the flag system, new safety signs, and are able to offer advice on tides, rip currents and local weather conditions. They have their boards handy for lifesaving and in their spare time hold surf demonstrations and coach. A helicopter rescue drill from nearby RAF St Mawgan shows how swimmers would be winched to safety.