Five 18-year-old youths who went to bathe at Mount Lavinia beach and were being swept into the sea after getting caught in a severe current were rescued by a team of police lifeguards yesterday (28), the Police Headquarters states.

The five 18-year-old youths residing in the Rajagiriya and Koswatta areas faced this mishap.

While they were bathing at Mount Lavinia beach, they got caught in a strong current that suddenly arose and were swept towards the sea, at which moment the sound of the group of youths screaming for help caught the attention of a group of officers attached to the Mount Lavinia Police Lifeguard Unit who were engaged in lifeguard duties on the beach.

With that, the lifeguard team consisting of Police Sergeant (38788) Nagahawatta, Police Constable (31996) Kasun, and Police Constable (98684) Kodithuwakku acted immediately, jumped into the sea, and managed to bring all five youths who were being swept away safely back to the beach, the police state.

The lifeguard officers also took steps to provide the necessary basic first aid to the group of youths brought to the beach immediately.