RNLI lifeguards return to Kent beaches this weekend ahead of half-term holidays

In a sign that summer is just around the corner, lifeguards will be back in action at 12 beaches across Thanet and Swale from 10am on Saturday 21 May, ahead of the half-term holidays at the end of the month.

Beaches to be lifeguarded by the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, include the popular seaside destinations of Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Botany Bay.

James Uren, RNLI Lifeguard Manager in Kent, said: ‘The countdown to the start of the new season is always an exciting time of the year. The past weeks have been spent welcoming back old faces, training up new recruits and ensuring all our equipment is ready to keep Kent’s beautiful beaches safe for all.

‘We’ll have a week back on the beach before the local school half-terms begin when we expect visitor numbers to increase. It’s great to see children out in the sunshine at the beach enjoying their holidays. They can do this safely by visiting a lifeguarded beach and swimming between the red and yellow flags.’

Clad in their familiar red and yellow uniforms, this will be the fifth year RNLI lifeguards will have patrolled Kent’s coast using rescue boards, jet skis, medical equipment and, most importantly, the knowledge and expertise of highly trained lifesavers.

James added: ‘We’re still looking to recruit lifeguards for the summer, particularly on the Isle of Sheppey. I’m certain it’s Kent’s best summer job, so if you’re over 16, a strong swimmer with a good level of fitness, get in touch and we’ll talk to you about how to get qualified.

‘You can check out what it’s like to be a lifeguard in Kent on our facebook page RNLI Lifeguards South East or on twitter @RNLILifeguardsSE, where there are lots of photos an updates about what we’ve been up to ahead of the new season.’

For more information on getting a paid job as a lifeguard, email James at [email protected].

The following beaches will be patrolled from 10am to 6pm daily throughout the summer:

Margate, Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Broadstairs

The following beaches will be patrolled from 10am to 6pm at weekends only until 9 July when the service will be run daily:

Minnis Bay, West Bay, St Mildreds, Westbrook Bay, Stone Bay, Ramsgate, Sheerness, Leysdown.

ENDS

RNLI media contact

• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252  [email protected]
• James Oxley, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East)
0207 6207425 / 07786 668825 [email protected]
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.