RNLI lifeguards on duty on Swansea beaches from this weekend

The Mayday Bank Holiday weekend will see the charity’s lifeguards on patrol at Port Eynon Beach, Langland Bay, Caswell Bay, Three Cliffs Bay and Aberavon Beach offering safety advice and assistance to beach goers.

Lifeguards have completed all their training and will be back at their posts from 10am on Saturday (30 April).

At Langland Bay and Caswell Bay lifeguards will provide a safety service every day between this weekend and September 4. At Port Eynon, Aberavon Beach and Three Cliffs Bay lifeguards will be on duty on weekends only until the daily service begins on 21 May (Port Eynon and Aberavon) and 2 July (Three Cliffs Bay).

The service, which is provided in partnership between the RNLI and Swansea Council and Neath Port Talbot County Council, will see lifeguards on duty between 10am and 6pm on every day of service.

Jacob Davies, RNLI Lifeguard Manager, said: ‘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 water 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 with any queries should always approach a lifeguard, who will be more than willing to help or offer 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.’

Mark Child, Swansea Council Cabinet member for Wellbeing and Healthy City, said: ‘The beaches we manage are among the most scenic in the UK and regularly attract many thousands of visitors throughout the year.

'During the warmer summer months, many people will want to paddle, bathe and surf there, which is why we’ve worked in close partnership with expert lifeguards at the Royal National Lifeguard Institution for a number of years to ensure our beaches are covered during the bank holiday weekends and every day throughout June, July and August.'

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader Cllr Ali Thomas OBE said: ‘In addition to the magnificent beach itself, recent developments such as the Leisure and Fitness Centre, new play areas and the new skateboard park mean that Aberavon Seafront is attracting more and more visitors all the time. It is fantastic to see the RNLI lifeguards back on duty at Aberavon helping to make our beautiful beach safer throughout the summer season.’

RNLI lifeguards have been patrolling Swansea’s most popular beaches since 2009.

Swansea Bay will see lifeguards return for the third year this summer when the daily service begins there on July 2.

Across Wales the charity’s 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 and Trecco Bay and Coney Beach in Porthcawl.

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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