New RNLI lifeguard service to take to beaches of Porthcawl for the first time

The Mayday Bank Holiday weekend will see the charity’s lifeguards on patrol on Trecco Bay and Coney Beach, offering safety advice and assistance to beach goers.

For many years, Bridgend County Borough Council has employed lifeguards at four Porthcawl beaches - Coney Beach, Rest Bay, Trecco Bay and Pink Bay - creating a safe environment for both local residents and tourists to enjoy the beaches.

Now a new seasonal lifeguard service run in partnership by the council and the RNLI is about to begin and will continue that high standard of provision with the RNLI taking on the recruitment, training and overall management of the lifeguards.

Lifeguards have completed all their training and will be at their posts on Trecco Bay and Coney Beach from 10am on Saturday (30 April). Rest Bay and Pink Bay will see RNLI lifeguards on duty daily from 28 May and 2 July respectively.

At all four beaches the daily safety service will run throughout the summer holidays and lifeguards will be on duty between 10am and 6pm.

Jacob Davies, RNLI Lifeguard Manager, said: ‘We are really pleased to begin working with Bridgend County Borough Council to provide a safety service on the beaches of Porthcawl this year.

‘We encourage people thinking of a trip to the beach in the coming weeks and months to always visit a lifeguarded beach and anyone heading into the sea should always respect the water and swim between the red and yellow flags.

‘Our lifeguards are fully trained in all aspects of beach safety so anyone visiting the beach with any queries should always approach a lifeguard, who will be more than willing to help or offer expert advice.

‘The weather of late has been looking up and if that continues this weekend and in the weeks to come we could see busy beaches. But I would remind people the water temperature at this time of year remains very cold, so anyone thinking of venturing into the water should remember to wear a good wetsuit to avoid suffering from the effects of cold water shock.’

Matt Childs, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, added: ‘The community surf lifesaving clubs in Porthcawl have a proud record of supporting beach and water safety in the town and we look forward to working closely with them over the season to further develop this. The lifeguards will also be working closely with our lifeboat volunteers at Porthcawl RNLI.’

Councillor Phil White, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing, said: ‘We’re looking forward to working with the RNLI this summer to create a safe environment for local residents and tourists to enjoy our beaches.

'Lifeguards provide an invaluable service, helping to keep beach goers safe by spotting danger and saving lives. Make sure that you always heed their advice and swim at a lifeguarded beach within the red and yellow flagged swimming area.’

Across Wales the RNLI lifeguards assisted more than 900 people on 32 beaches last year.

There will also be RNLI lifeguard cover this weekend at Whitesands Beach and Tenby South beach in Pembrokeshire, Whitmore Bay in the Vale of Glamorgan, Aberavon Beach in Neath Port Talbot and Caswell Bay, Langland Bay and Three Cliffs Bay in Swansea.

Notes to editors:

The attached picture shows an RNLI lifeguard in action. Credit RNLI

For more information please contact Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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