Swansea lifeguards responded to multiple incidents on Tuesday 23 July
Swansea lifeguards responded to multiple incidents on Tuesday 23 July
Lifeguards News Release
With lots of school children now off for the summer holidays, crowds of people have flocked to the beaches of Swansea this week, unfortunately resulting in an increase in incidents.
RNLI/Langland Lifeguards
A busy day on Langland's beaches on Tuesday 23 July
The beaches on the South Wales coast have been especially busy in the recent good weather, with the lifeguards assisting multiple incidents on Tuesday 23 July.
The team of Aberavon lifeguards were Sam Jones, Eleri Hulme, Nathaniel Palla and Owain Morgans, who dealt with over twenty missing children in one day. As the soaring temperatures bring more people to the beaches, it’s important for parents to keep an eye on young children, who can easily be lost in the midst of crowds.
Aberavon lifeguards also delivered major first aid to a female casualty suffering with breathing difficulties. RNLI lifeguards are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care and are trained to deal with a multitude of scenarios. The incidents at Aberavon beach are a good example of how multiple agencies work together, as the lifeguards were assisted by Coastguard teams, Port Talbot Lifeboat, Aberavon Surf Lifesaving Club and the police.
Langland beach was also a popular destination for families on Tuesday, with lifeguards Kieran Hennah, David Figelstone, Dan Pearon and James Davies kept busy all throughout the day. The lifeguards carried out nine rescues throughout the day, assisted with eighteen separate incidents and helped several missing children reunite with their families.
A thirteen year old boy dived into a rock on Langland beach, unaware of the depth of the water, and required medical attention for a head and spinal injury. The lifeguards alerted the coastguard and delivered casualty care to the boy. The rescue 187 helicopter arrived on scene to take the casualty to receive further medical attention at Morristown.
Swansea Lifeguard Supervisor Jessica Gates said, ‘We ask members of the public to swim at lifeguarded beaches between the red and yellow flags and to be extra cautious with the surf. The sea can be unpredictable and it’s important to keep an eye on the seas conditions, as currents and tides can change within minutes.’
Luckily these incidents took place on a lifeguarded beach, and not somewhere unsupervised, as trained professionals were on hand to deal with all the different situations. There are over 240 beaches with RNLI lifeguards on patrol around the UK and Channel Islands, so the chances are that there is one near you. Find your nearest here:
https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches
The primary role of RNLI lifeguards is to make sure the beach can be enjoyed safely by the public. However up to 95% of the lifeguards work is preventative. They highlight dangers on the beach with the appropriate flags and signs, offer safety advice on the beaches, and deliver water safety education in schools.
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.
Media contacts:
For more information contact Katie Lewis, Media Engagement Placement (Wales and West) via email at [email protected]
RNLI/Ben Shepard
Coastguard 187 rescue helicopter landed on Langland beach to rescue casualty.
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.
