FRIENDS and former colleagues took part in a paddle out in memory of a former RNLI lifeguard on Saturday afternoon.

Both Newquay RNLI lifeboats attended the event off Towan Beach to say farewell to Rodney MacDonald who died suddenly on March 1 aged 59.

Rod who grew up in Sydney, Australia, was a RNLI lifeguard in the Newquay area from 2001 until 2018.

He became the first lifeguard to be presented with an RNLI bronze medal for gallantry In May 2003.

The award was presented after a particularly difficult and selfless rescue at Fistral beach in October 2002.

Rod, who was off duty at the time, battled through large breaking surf to rescue a badly injured swimmer who was being thrown against rocks. Rod managed to bring him back to shore safely despite not having any rescue equipment at the time.