The Sidmouth community has come together to support a water-sports business in the town which was burgled on Sunday (July 21).

A Crowdfunder page has been set up by Sidmouth resident Charlie Williams to help Jurassic Paddle Sports, which provides unofficial lifeguard coverage for Sidmouth beach.

On Sunday thieves destroyed a shed owned by the business and stole wetsuits, flags, buckets and a life-saving rescue tube. The damage and theft is estimated to have cost the business around £1,000.

Jurassic Paddle Sports' owner Guy Russell, 36, says he has been blown away by the support from the community and any money raised will all go towards providing lifesaving equipment for his lifeguard service, none of the money will be used to support his business.

Guy, a trained lifeguard and veteran crew member for Sidmouth Lifeboat, and his team provide unofficial lifeguard coverage for Sidmouth Beach and have been working with Sidmouth Town Council, East Devon District Council and Sidmouth Lifeboat for the past three years to become the official lifeguard service. Guy is confident that official status will be granted within the next year.

Charlie Williams set up the page, so far £725 (at the time of writing) has been raised. More than 35 people have so far donated.

Guy said: "Honestly, people have been writing to me for a while about setting up a funding page. We run the lifeguard service here because nobody else will.

"I'm totally humbled and blown away by people's generosity and the kind words written about us. I was uncomfortable with the idea of funding page at first but now I plan on putting all the money toward buying lifesaving equipment for Sidmouth. The money will not be used to support my business in any way."

Looking back on the theft Guy is philosophical, he said: "People have far worse problems in life, it would be easy to get annoyed but it's not worth it.

"I'm disappointed but we'll find our feet again and maybe we'll run our business slightly differently. I'm trying to find the positives in life.

"All too often we worry about silly things in life and there are people out there with far worse problems."

Guy is also considering using the money raised by the page to take on a new member of staff and provide additional lifeguard training for his crew.

The page's founder, Charlie Williams, told Sidmouth Nub News: "After the continued comments from the Sidmouth community via Facebook asking for a funding page, one has been set up on behalf of Guy at Jurassic Paddle Sports.

"The Sidmouth community just wants to show their appreciation for all that Guy has done for beach safety in Sidmouth.

"Guy has said he will put any monies raised towards equipment to help him with the lifeguarding service he independently supplies on the beach at Sidmouth."

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