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Skegness RNLI lifeguard rescues two stand-up paddleboarders

Lifeguards News Release

Skegness RNLI lifeguard Isaac Banham (17) rescued two women on stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) blown offshore by strong winds on (Sunday 2 July).

Skegness RNLI lifeguard Isaac Banham

RNLI/Arun Gray

Skegness RNLI lifeguard Isaac Banham

Around 11:40am on Sunday 2 July, RNLI lifeguard Isaac Banham was called out to rescue two stand-up paddleboarders who had been blown offshore approximately 500m outside the red and yellow flags at Skegness.

Isaac said: ‘The paddleboarders were caught by strong winds and couldn’t make it back to the beach.

‘They had flipped off their boards on the other side of the pier.’

The 17-year-old lifeguard quickly acted and paddled out to the casualties using a rescue board.

A lifeboat was paged prior to the rescue but stood down as the lifeguard had already swiftly brought the two paddleboarders to shore before it had launched.

The two women received a welfare check back on the beach at the lifeguard unit.

They were offered safety advice on potential harm they could have encountered such as inhaling water and were provided with information on secondary drowning.

The lifeguards advised them to seek medical assistance if they showed any signs of injury.

Taryne-Rose Cullen, RNLI Water Safety Delivery Support, North and East, said:

‘Whether you are a beginner or more experienced with stand-up paddleboarding, we advise you to follow key safety measures such as:

  • Wearing a buoyancy aid that provides extra floatation in the water should you fall in

  • Carrying a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch to use in an emergency

  • Wearing the correct leash to stay connected to your board if you get into trouble and need help to stay afloat

  • And to avoid offshore winds that can quickly blow you and your paddleboard far out to sea, making it difficult to paddle back to shore.

‘To know when the wind is offshore, keep an eye out for the orange windsock on lifeguarded beaches to see which way the wind is blowing.’

Offshore winds are unpredictable. The RNLI urges people not to take inflatables into the sea as they can get pulled out from shore within seconds.

Taryne added: ‘To help prevent paddleboarding incidents, consider other water users by learning the rights of way in the surf. This can save you and others getting injured.

‘In a coastal emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard or, if you are inland, ask for the Fire and Rescue service.’

RNLI lifeguards remind beachgoers to always visit a lifeguarded beach. 

The charity’s lifeguards are trained to offer friendly advice and medical assistance when needed and operate on the beaches seven-days-a-week between 10am and 6pm. 

For beach safety information and tips, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety  

For more information on how to stay safe while paddleboarding, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/stand-up-paddle-boarding

Notes to editors

RNLI lifeguards are currently operating full-time on the following Lincolnshire beaches seven-days-a-week between 10am and 6pm: 

  • Skegness

  • Sutton-on-Sea

  • Mablethorpe

RNLI Picture caption 

The photograph shows Skegness RNLI lifeguard Isaac Banham. Photo credit: Arun Gray.

RNLI media contacts  

For more information please contact: Toni Carr, RNLI Media Engagement Placement on 07890 402106 or [email protected] or Clare Hopps, Regional Media Officer on 07824 518641 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.

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