A surfer who was ‘brought back to life’ by an RNLI lifeguard after being pulled unconscious from the waves has received backlash after launching a fundraiser for a new wetsuit rather than those who saved him.
Sam Brenchley, who suffered a blow to the head by his board at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, posted a GoFundMe to raise £350 after his wetsuit was ‘unfortunately’ cut from his body during the rescue.
In response, Ryan Nile – one of three men who saved the surfer’s life – responded to the fundraiser, commenting: ‘This is very disheartening to see. A donation to the air ambulance is more suitable than a wetsuit!’
Another person commented: ‘Was fully expecting this to be raising money for the air ambulance, not asking for strangers to donate towards buying you a new wetsuit.’
A third said: ‘It really is beggars belief that people are giving money to a self-centred human, me me me. How much did the air ambulance cost? I think you need a reality check.’
Within his post, Mr Brenchley told how he needed ‘help’ getting ‘back in the water’ after his wetsuit was ruined during efforts to save his life.
‘On Monday I suffered a whack to the head from a surfboard and the impact caused me to black out,’ he said.
Sam Brenchley (pictured) suffered a blow to the head by his board at Fistral Beach in Newquay
The surfer has been hit with criticism after fundraising money for a new wetsuit – rather than for the emergency services who saved his life
Mr Brenchley posted a GoFundMe to raise £350
He was helped at the scene and taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital (pictured) for further treatment
‘I was unconscious in the water for a few minutes until an off duty lifeguard managed to spot me and drag me to shore and proceeded to bring me back to life, the air ambulance did a great job in airlifting me to the hospital where I was well looked after, unfortunately my wetsuit was cut off me on the beach for safety reasons and now I longer have a wetsuit.’
He added: ‘Could you please help me get back in the water?’
Following the criticism, the surfer issued an update, writing: ‘I want to thank the air ambulance for their incredible service and to the people on the beach that found me and saved my life – to say I’m full of gratitude right now is an understatement.’
He added: ‘Surfing for me is a big part of my mental health stability and this suit allows me to go out everyday and spend time doing the thing I love.
‘I just want to get back to that position when I have recovered, once again thank you for your help.’
A Cornwall Air Ambulance spokesperson said: ‘Cornwall Air Ambulance was tasked to an incident at Fistral Beach in Newquay on March 31.
‘We conveyed one patient to the Royal Cornwall Hospital for onward care.’
