Beach wardens went 'above and beyond': Council hits back at coroner's claim staff stood by as Walsall grandfather died
Beach wardens at a resort where a Black Country grandfather died trying to save two girls are 'discouraged' on entering the water in dangerous conditions, it has emerged.
Richard Guest, 74, from Walsall, suffered a heart attack when attempting to get the 13-year-old girls out of the water in Tywyn, Wales, an inquest heard this week.
Coroner Peter Brunton criticised the beach wardens, saying they 'remained totally passive' during the tragic incident.
But Gwynedd Council has hit back saying its staff are 'not qualified or properly equipped as beach lifeguards', so are not encouraged to enter the water in dangerous conditions.
The authority also stated two of its wardens did enter the water and helped save one of the girls' lives.
Mr Guest died after swimming out to try to save the girls in the resort, near Aberdovey, in July.
As reported earlier this week, Mr Brunton issued a scathing critique of the beach patrols at Walsall grandfather Mr Guest's inquest in Aberystwyth.
Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, he said: "They played no part, they remained totally passive as far as this tragic event was concerned.
"This in itself is a great cause for concern.
"What is the point of having marshals if they don't enter the sea?"
The council has launched a rebuttal to Mr Brunton's statement, pointing out its seasonal staff are not qualified as lifeguards so are not encouraged to enter the water in difficult conditions.
But, the authority said its two beach wardens went above and beyond the call of duty and helped save one of the girls.
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: "Gwynedd Council employs seasonal staff as beach wardens on a number of beaches throughout Gwynedd.
"As these members of staff are not qualified or properly equipped as beach lifeguards, they are, for safety reasons, discouraged from entering the water in dangerous conditions.
"However, in this tragic incident, two of the council's beach wardens did in fact enter the water, and were directly involved in assisting to recover a girl from the water and assisted in saving her life.
"Gwynedd Council staff were not called to called to give evidence at the inquest and we will be writing to the coroner regarding this matter."
A post-mortem revealed Mr Guest had significant left ventricular hypertrophy, a condition which puts sufferers at higher risk of a heart attack and stroke.
