This is the moment two young boys in a kayak who were caught in a strong current were rescued by an RNLI lifeguard.

And the rescue has sparked a school holiday beach safety message from the RNLI.

The youngsters, nine-year-old Edward and Eddie aged eight, were enjoying a day out at the beach at Minnis Bay on Saturday when they decided to go for a paddle in a kayak.

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They strayed too far away from shore and got caught in a current that began taking them out to sea.

RNLI lifeguard Rebecca Kearney was on patrol when she saw the youngsters go into the water. Her experience and training told her that she should keep a close eye on them.

The rescue comes just days after the RNLI launched its Swim Safe safety initiative with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) which teaches children how to enjoy the sea safely.

Video: The boys were rescued after their kayak drifted (courtesy of RNLI)

Rebecca said: “It was a nice calm day and lots of people were swimming, kayaking and generally enjoying themselves in the water. But boys being boys, I had a feeling they might venture out a little too far so I watched them closely.

“There is a strong current that runs left to right across the beach and the boys found themselves caught in it. They were trying to paddle back in but were actually being taken away from land and I could see they were tiring about 100m out.”

The boys’ mothers were also watching their progress closely and raised their concerns with another RNLI lifeguard patrolling the beach.

"The coast is unpredictable and it’s easy to get caught out even on the calmest of days..." - Lifeguard Rebecca Kearney

Rebecca said: “I took a rescue board and tube and paddled out to the boys. They were tired from trying to get back to shore but apart from that were actually very relaxed about the whole situation.

"I handed them a rescue tube and then paddled back to the beach towing the boys in their kayak behind me.

“The mums did the right thing by visiting a lifeguarded beach and watching the boys closely, but the coast is unpredictable and it’s easy to get caught out even on the calmest of days.

"We advise everyone to swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach and to surf or kayak between the black and white flags.”

One of the boy’s mothers, Sarah Munday, said: “My son Edward is a confident kayaker, but not especially experienced.

"However, even someone far more accomplished than him wouldn’t have been able to cope with the tide going out so fast and the breeze getting up like it did. And being only nine, Edward did get tired very quickly.

“This isn’t an excuse, but I had barely taken my eyes of Edward and Eddie when I was told they had gone too far and the alarm was raised.”

Sarah praised the fast work of the lifeguards and the way in which they talked to the boys after they were safely brought to shore.

She said: “They were firm but fair with them – no hysterics or scaremongering, just a straightforward warning about the dangers Edward and Eddie had faced.

“The boys certainly listened and have learnt their lesson.”

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