RNLI lifeguards to return to three Ceredigion beaches this weekend

The charity’s lifeguards, which are provided in partnership with Ceredigion County Council, will return to duty on Aberporth, Tresaith and Aberystwyth North from Saturday (18 June), providing safety advice and assistance to people visiting the coast.

They will be on the beaches between 10am and 6pm every day throughout the summer until the season ends on 4 September.

Aberporth, Tresaith and Aberystwyth North bring the number of beaches with RNLI lifeguards in the county up to five, after New Quay and Llangrannog saw lifeguards return there last month. Lifeguards will return to Borth, Clarach and Aberystwyth South beaches from 2 July.

In north Pembrokeshire, RNLI lifeguards will also return to provide a daily service on Poppit Sands and Newport Sands from Saturday (18 June).

Last year RNLI lifeguards assisted over 900 people on 32 of Wales’ busiest beaches.  This year the charity has increased the safety patrols to 39 beaches across the Welsh coast.

Sam Trevor, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, said: ‘All our lifeguards complete comprehensive training before beginning summer safety services on the beaches and they are very much looking forward to manning another three of Ceredigion’s beaches from this weekend.

‘We encourage those thinking of a trip to the coast over the summer months to always visit a lifeguarded beach and if you’re heading into the sea please respect the water and swim between the red and yellow flags. 

‘Our lifeguards have dealt with a number of people cut off by the tide so far this year. It’s very important to check tidal times when visiting the coast.  It easy to go for a walk on a nice sandy beach only to find that the tide has come in and you’re suddenly cut off and in danger.   If you do find yourself cut off, don’t attempt to wade through the water to dry land, call 999 and ask for the coastguard who will send for help.  Remember, the lifeguards are more than happy to advise you on local tide times so please approach the team and ask for some tips at the start of your day.’

The news comes less than a week after the RNLI released coastal fatality figures (1) to coincide with the launch its national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water, which aims to halve accidental coastal deaths by 2024.

They showed 20 people lost their lives around Wales’s coast last year - the highest number since 2011 - and the number of near-fatal incidents was even higher, with the RNLI’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards in Wales saving 78 lives in 2015 (2).

The campaign is targeted at adult men, who account for by far the most incidents and a surprising trend is that nearly half (45%) of the coastal deaths each year are people who never planned to enter the water.

As part of the campaign the RNLI is renewing its warning to people about the dangers of cold water, slips and falls, rip currents and waves and urging people to visit RNLI.org/RespectTheWater where they will find information on how to stay safe.

(1) Records from the National Water Safety Forum’s Water Incident Database (WAID) 2011–2015. RNLI has analysed the data using GIS software to plot and analyse incidents before inclusion in a specific coastal dataset (accident and natural causes only).
(2) RNLI lifeboat incident data 2015 (exc call-outs to self-harm incidents) and RNLI lifeguard incident data 2015.

Notes to editors:

The attached picture shows an RNLI lifeguard in action

For information on tide times in Ceredigion visit http://www.discoverceredigion.co.uk/english/Pages/default.aspx

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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