Eight pulled under by rip current in Wales

As many as six in hospital after being caught in waters known to be treacherous

Three people were taken to hospital by the coastguard helicopter, one by an air ambulance and two by road ambulance, HM coastguard said (Getty Images)

Eight people were recovered from the waters around a popular tourist beach on the Welsh coast after being caught in a rip current, emergency service officials have said.

As many as six people were taken to hospital after being pulled from the sea at Aberdyfi Beach in Gwynedd, northwest Wales on Sunday afternoon.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said a multi-agency response was launched at around 2.20pm after multiple reports of people in trouble in the water.

The beach, which sits on the southern tip of the Snowdonia National Park, is a popular tourist spot – while the coast is well known for its treacherous waters.

The rip current is a narrow, rapid flow of water which moves directly away from the shore and can endanger amateur swimmers.

Authorities differed on the number of people taken to hospital.

The local ambulance service has reported five while HM Coastguard reported six – including three who were taken to hospital by the coastguard helicopter, one by an air ambulance and two by road ambulance.

Two others were checked over by paramedics at the scene but did not need further medical treatment.

Rip currents, which usually run at 1mph or 2mph – but are capable of reaching speeds of 5mph that would outpace Olympic swimmers - contribute to the majority of incidents the RNLI responds to each year.