Lifeboat crew and lifeguards team up in Skegness to train ahead of summer season

Led by Search and Rescue Unit (SAR) Commanders Station Coxswain, Craig Willard and Senior Helm and Coxswain, Lee St Quinton alongside Lifeguard Supervisor Marcus Upjohn, the training simulated various casualty care training scenarios, including casualty recoveries onto the RNLI lifeboats.

The volunteer lifeboat crew worked with their lifeguard colleagues to develop inter-team working skills and reinforce the importance of collaborative working during the summer.

Lifeguards will be available on Central Beach in Skegness from the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend and on the beach throughout the summer. Ahead of the season, it is essential to remember the five steps to enjoying the beach safely:

1. Float to live

2. Choose a lifeguarded beach, and swim between the Red and Yellow flags

3. Know the risks and what to do

4. Call 999 or 112 in an emergency

5. Know your flags

The lifeguards, some of whom were new to the team for this year, learned about the capabilities of the lifeboats, including the additional equipment on board that can be used for casualty recovery and extraction.

The whole exercise was a huge success, and all of those involved developed and reinforced skills that will benefit the local area during the upcoming season.

Lee St Quinton, Skegness RNLI Senior Helm and Coxswain, said: ‘For our crew, multi-team training sessions add so much value to their development. Alongside training in the core competences of their role, they can also develop cross-team working skills that will further enhance the lifesaving capabilities of our volunteer lifesaving service.’

The RNLI volunteers debriefed following the exercise alongside the RNLI lifeguards. Then they washed down and refuelled the Joel and April Grunnill and relief inshore lifeboat The Gentle JEKM to ensure the lifeboat was ready for the next emergency.

RNLI Photo credit

The photo shows the team together. Credit RNLI/Brad Johnson.

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, Twitter 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.