Meet our lifeguards

RNLI lifeguards patrol over 240 beaches in the UK and the Channel Islands. They are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care, highly trained and strong and fit - able to swim 200m in under 3½ minutes and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds.

Two lifeguards patrolling the beach

Photo: RNLI

Two lifeguards patrolling the beach

A good lifeguard rarely gets wet - 95% of a lifeguard's work is preventative. They monitor sea conditions and set up the appropriate flags, watch the people on the beach and offer safety advice both on the beach and in classrooms through our education programmes.

Most RNLI lifeguards are paid by the relevant local authority to maintain patrols on our busiest beaches, but we also have volunteer lifeguards. Our lifeguard support volunteers help lifeguards with duties on land, such as lookout, radio communications and casualty care.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Jo Thompson
RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Jo Thompson
'You’ve got to be able to make quick decisions that will save a person’s life.'
Meet Jo
RNLI Senior Seasonal Lifeguard Arun Gray
RNLI Senior Seasonal Lifeguard Arun Gray
'You have to be ready for anything as a lifeguard.'
Meet Arun
RNLI Lifeguard Georgia Laing in a lifeguard kit smiling at a sandy beach
RNLI Seasonal Lifeguard Georgia Laing
‘It’s great to know that you're keeping people safe.’
Meet Georgia
RNLI Senior Lifeguard Zeph Palmer in a lifeguard tshirt smiling at a sandy beach
RNLI Senior Seasonal Lifeguard Zeph Palmer
‘I enjoy training, learning new skills, and meeting people.’
Meet Zeph