AN ABERYSTWYTH lifeguard has said she feels “humbled” after helping save “terrified and desperate” refugees on the Greek island of Lesvos.

Megan Turner, 20, has worked as an RNLI lifeguard on the beaches of Ceredigion for four years and has been a member of Aberystwyth Surf Lifesaving Club since she was seven.

It was reported in the Cambrian News last month that Megan was hoping to raise enough money to allow her to travel to Lesvos, where refugees fleeing the war in Syria are making the often-fateful trip in the hope of reaching Europe, to volunteer her skills as a lifeguard with the International Surf Lifesaving Association.

Speaking to the Cambrian News this week on her return from 10 days on the island, Megan said: “Our work was to assist boats of refugees that were trying to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey, fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria and Palestine.

“Much of the work to aid these refugees is done and funded by volunteers and benevolent organisations, while governmental presence on Lesvos is predominantly through the military and armed police, and is often threatening and unhelpful to refugees.

“To try to avoid being caught by NATO or Turkish coastguards and be sent back to Turkey immediately, many of the refugee boats attempt the 12 mile crossing during the night, often in dangerous conditions, in overcrowded rubber boats with an engine glued to the back.”

Megan added: “They arrive cold, terrified and desperate, many crying and kissing the ground as they step on to European soil. Every boat that we helped arrive safely was a reward and a relief.”

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