RNLI urge air show visitors to stay safe this weekend on Great Yarmouth beach

To support the event and make sure visitors understand how to stay safe at the beach, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguards will be stationed on Great Yarmouth beach from 10am – 7pm on Saturday 16 June and Sunday 17 June.

The RNLI lifeguard service is focussed on safety and drowning prevention. Every lifeguard has completed a period of extensive training to ensure they have the vital lifesaving skills to deal with everything from locating missing children through to performing major first-aid and rescues at sea.

Nick Ayers, RNLI Community Safety Partner, said: ‘Great Yarmouth beach is the perfect spot to view all of the activity in the air. With such a large number of people expected, it’s vital that everyone is aware of how to stay safe when enjoying time near the water and our lifeguards will be there to offer friendly safety advice.

‘Remember that there will not be the usual red and white flags on the beach to provide guidance on where to swim, so we urge people to follow our safety advice. We hope visitors enjoy the weekend with the extra peace of mind of knowing that we are there should they need us.’

The RNLI encourage visitors to enjoy the air show from the shore and avoid going swimming in the sea during this busy time. The flight safety zone will be in place from 30metres offshore therefore any swimmers in this area will impact the air show flights taking place.

If people do choose to swim in the sea, the RNLI urges that they stay very close to the shoreline and be aware of the following safety advice this weekend:

• Only swim when lifeguards are on patrol

• Don’t use inflatables in the sea

• Stay within in your depth

• Supervise family and friends at all times

• Report any missing persons as soon as possible

• In an emergency, call 999 and ask for Coastguard
  
  

Following the air show, the RNLI lifeguard season at Great Yarmouth beach officially starts on 7 July, with the team on hand seven days a week until 9 September.

Air show sponsors, Haven, also recently announced a national partnership with the RNLI.

Nathan Race, General Manager at Haven’s Seashore Holiday Park, says: ‘We’re looking forward to sponsoring the first Haven Great Yarmouth Air Show, and are proud to work alongside our partners at the RNLI to help people stay safe whilst visiting the coast.'

In March, leading family holiday company, Haven, announced that the RNLI will be their exclusive national charity partner for the next three years. The partnership aims to fully integrate the RNLI across Haven’s 36 award-winning family holiday parks, supporting Haven’s ‘Safe & Secure’ attitude towards water and beach activities.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, or if you would like to speak to Nick, please contact Megan McBride, RNLI Regional Media Engagement North East and East, on 0191 5269158 or [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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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.