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North and East Yorkshire RNLI lifeguard season comes to an end

Lifeguards News Release

On Sunday 3 September, RNLI lifeguard services across beaches in North and East Yorkshire finished, marking the end of another lifeguard season.

RNLI Lifeguard patrolling the beach at Withernsea

RNLI/Nathan Williams

RNLI Lifeguard patrolling the beach at Withernsea

RNLI lifeguard patrols at Redcar, Saltburn, Runswick Bay, Sandsend, Whitby, Cayton Bay, Scarborough North Bay, Scarborough South Bay, Filey, Belvedere, Bridlington North, Bridlington South, Withernsea and Hornsea have come to an end as the peak summer season closes.

The charity’s lifeguards have worked extremely hard by monitoring the beaches, performing lifesaving rescues, administering essential first aid and participating in training exercises to practice some of the important skills required to save lives at sea.

They have also collaborated with RNLI lifeboat stations and crew across North and East Yorkshire and emergency services including HM Coastguard and the Fire and Rescue service.

The most notable rescue of the season was by 16-year-old RNLI Lifeguard Riley Billany at Whitby Beach. Riley rescued two young girls who were pulled into the water by a strong rip current outside the red and yellow flags.

He swiftly attended to the casualties with a rescue tube and managed to safely assist them back to an area of water where they could stand.

The two children received a welfare check back on the beach by Riley and Seasonal Senior Lifeguard Rob Stephenson and were declared to be in good health with no apparent injuries.

North and East Yorkshire RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Andrew Jamieson congratulated his team’s efforts:

‘Once again, the lifeguard team did a fantastic job of keeping the public safe at our beautiful beaches. The lifeguards interacted with a lot of people, giving them excellent advice on how to stay safe and quality first aid to those who needed it. We look forward to the 2024 season.’

The charity advises that should people wish to visit a beach during offseason to continue following their Float to Live advice:

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to...

  • Tilt your head back with your ears submerged 

  • Try to relax 

  • Control your breathing 

  • Use your hands to help you stay afloat 

  • Once calm, then try to call for help or swim to safety if you can.

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

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

For further information on Float to Live, go to: https://rnli.org/safety/float

RNLI Picture caption

The photograph shows an RNLI Lifeguard patrolling the beach at Withernsea. Photo credit: Nathan Williams.

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] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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.