RNLI Lifeguards in Yorkshire have busy start to the season

Scarborough South Bay beach had over 30,000 visitors on Saturday 29 June . Lifeguards dealt with a number of incidents including over 20 missing children and assisted the RNLI Lifeboat crew and Coastguard with a major incident involving a diver who had taken ill.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Dave Brant said ‘The number of visitors this weekend was unprecedented. Our lifeguards did incredible work to keep beachgoers safe despite the challenging number of visitors. Luckily the busiest part of the day coincided with high tide, had it been low tide we would’ve dealt with a lot more incidents and a lot more missing children’.

Dave added: ‘We would like to remind families that we have launched a wristband scheme in conjunction with the Coastguard to aid in reuniting missing children with their families.

‘The wristbands are free and can be collected at lifeboat, lifeguard stations and RNLI Shops along the Yorkshire coast. Parents and Guardians can write their contact details on the wristband making it easier and quicker to reunite children if they get lost.’

For more information on how to stay safe on the coast this summer please visit www.rnli.org.uk

Notes to editors

• As RNLI lifeguards need to be physically on the beach during the patrolled hours, ready to respond to emergencies and prevent accidents, the RNLI can’t rely on volunteers to provide this cover seven days a week.
  

• Local authorities part fund the RNLI’s costs, which helps to meet the cost of lifeguard wages.
  
  

RNLI Media Contacts

For more information contact:

Kate Driver, RNLI Regional Media Engagement on 07486872956 or email at [email protected]

Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 07824518641 or email at [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.