After the community voiced serious concerns earlier this week regarding the lack of lifeguards ahead of the bank holiday weekend, reports are coming in today that suggest everyone’s worst fears may have been realised.

Social media is currently awash with news of incidents from all around Cornwall, involving bathers and surfers, including an unconfirmed report of two fatalities.

Just a few minutes ago, Cornwall Live have reported that four lifeboats and a coastguard rescue helicopter are attending a series of serious incidents across the county.

“The RNLI have launched from Rock, St Agnes, St Ives and Padstow. Falmouth Coastguard has been inundated with calls with ongoing incidents reported to be serious at Constantine Bay, Treyarnon and Harlyn caused by offshore rip currents,” read the article.

“Cornwall Live has been told that there is a multi casualty incident at Treyarnon Bay involving Padstow lifeboat, Cornwall Air Ambulance, Coast Guard Helicopter, Padstow Coast Guard team – initial reports suggest one person has been receiving CPR,  the condition of a second casualty is unknown.”

“A second report is coming in of a Surfer caught in the rip tide at Constantine.”

Carve Surfing Magazine also reported earlier that they had been involved in a rescue.

“Just recovered and gave in water CPR to unconscious surfer,” they said on Twitter. “No @RNLI lifeguard back up, no oxygen. Lots of ex lifeguards to help but no equipment to save lives. CEO and bosses should resign. It is D Day right around the coast. Lifeboat crews are disgusted with lack of leadership”

The Return To Shore Twitter account has been similarly tweeting out reports of rescues occurring throughout the day.

We’ll update more on this story as we get it.

Update: The BBC has confirmed the deaths of two people, with a third in a serious condition in hospital, after a string of separate incidents occurred in quick succession along the Cornish coast.

Our deepest sympathies go out to their families and all those who did their best to save them.