A MAN who was rescued from the sea more than 30 years ago has been reunited with the RNLI lifeguard who saved his life, following a chance encounter at the same Cornish beach.

David Lewington from Berkshire and RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Martyn Ward met at Chapel Porth, near St Agnes, to celebrate their chance reunion last summer.

David was visiting Chapel Porth in 2025 when he recognised Martyn as the lifeguard who came to his aid in the water three decades earlier. While swimming at Chapel Porth in 1986, David noticed another swimmer in difficulty further out to sea. He swam out to assist and helped to keep the casualty afloat until Martyn reached them with rescue equipment.

“I was acting purely on instinct,” said David. “I saw someone who needed help and went to help them.” However, after securing the initial casualty, David became exhausted in the water. Martyn returned to assist and he was brought safely back to shore.

At the time, lifeguard services at Chapel Porth were operated by the local authority, supported by surf lifesaving clubs. The RNLI introduced its lifeguard service in 2001, when a trial service was set up on the south coast of England; it took on Chapel Porth in 2002, building on the foundations established by these earlier teams. The beach is now one of 245 around the UK and Channel Islands to be patrolled by the RNLI.

Martyn began lifeguarding in 1977, joined the RNLI when the charity expanded its service in Cornwall, and continues to be part of the RNLI lifeguard service.

“David did an amazing job in 1986,” said Martyn. “He held the casualty until I arrived – I’m trained to do that, but for David to do that was incredibly brave.”

Following the rescue, David continued visiting Chapel Porth regularly with his family. He saw Martyn occasionally in the years immediately after the incident, but the pair eventually lost touch.

Their reunion came unexpectedly last year when David recognised Martyn sitting in his van overlooking the beach. The pair had not seen each other for three decades, but when David approached him – saying, “Put it this way - I wouldn’t be here without you” - Martyn quickly realised their shared history.

By further coincidence, Martyn’s son, Josh, is also an RNLI lifeguard and had assisted David’s son-in-law during a separate incident at the same beach.

“The spirit of the service hasn’t changed,” said David. “Lifeguards are still there, keeping an eye on everyone in the water. It’s a very personal, community-focused service, and it’s touched my family twice.”

David and Martyn were joined in their reunion in May RNLI lifeguard supervisor Drustan Ward, lifeguards Isobel Greenwood, Greg Spray and Samuel Cole, senior lifeguard Robbie Bullock, retired head lifeguard (Cornwall Council) Rolo Deards, lifeguard trainer and assessor Josh Ward and Chapel Porth Café owner/manager Toby Ross.