First lifeguard visitor centre to open at Fistral beach

The new interactive visitor attraction is the first in the country dedicated to lifeguards and safety alone.

Located on the first floor of the lifeguard unit at Fistral beach, this exciting new facility allows members of the public to find out more about the RNLI lifeguards safety and prevention work through fun, interactive displays with a panoramic view of the beach.

Visitors will be able to try on lifeguard kit, sit on a rescue watercraft used to save people in the water, see the medical kit lifeguards use and watch footage of previous rescues. They’ll also be ‘meet the lifeguards’ and ‘meet the lifeboat crew’ boards, a ‘dress the crew’ game and highlights of the RNLI’s lifeguarding history.

The centre will provide an engaging and educational experience where families visiting the local area can be equipped with the information required to stay safe when visiting the beach.

Julie Evans, RNLI Visitor Experience Manager, says: ‘We’re delighted to be opening this amazing new facility dedicated to RNLI lifeguards and beach safety. Fistral is an iconic beach which a long history of lifeguarding and draws in thousands of people every year, so we’re hoping beachgoers will take some time to drop in and learn more about how to keep themselves safe.’

The visitor centre will be officially opened by Paul Benney, who has a long history spanning four decades of lifesaving work in Newquay, working for the council, RNLI and a part of the local surf lifesaving club.

The order of the morning is as follows -

10.30am – guests gather outside the entrance to the visitor centre

Michael Charlton, Visitor Engagement Operations Manager, will call to order and welcome guests and give a short outline of purpose of the visitor centre.

Paul Benney will cut the ribbon to mark the centre officially open

Michael Charlton will then invite everybody inside to have a look around. Light refreshments will be provided

11am – RNLI lifeguards will carry out a demonstration on the beach adjacent to the visitor centre

The centre will be open from 12pm to 3pm Monday – Saturday, depending on volunteer availability. It’s hoped opening times will increase as the school holidays approach. We’re still looking for new volunteers to help run the centre so we can open it more regularly, if anybody is interested please contact [email protected] or 07818 688611 to find out more.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 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.

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.