Tyne and Wear RNLI lifeguard season comes to an end
On Sunday 3 September, RNLI lifeguard services across beaches in Tyne and Wear finished, marking the end of another lifeguard season.
RNLI lifeguard patrols at Whitley Bay, Whitley Bay North, Cullercoats, Tynemouth Longsands, Tynemouth Longsands North, King Edward’s Bay, Sandhaven Centre beach, Sandhaven Mowbray, Seaburn, Cats and Dogs, and Roker beach 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 the North East and emergency services including HM Coastguard and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue.
The most notable rescue of the season was a joint effort made by Seaburn and Roker Beach RNLI lifeguards who came together as one crew to rescue two men on a capsized jet ski approximately 500m off Seaburn coast.
Lifeguards Sam Irwin, Ben Mcmann, Chris Trotter and Abby Cass worked together to retrieve two casualties who had fallen into the water off a capsized jet ski without lifejackets or wetsuits on. They used a combination of their rescue boards and the RNLI rescue watercraft to safely assist them back to shore.
One of the casualties displayed early signs of hypothermia and once back at Seaburn shore they were monitored and treated by RNLI Senior Lifeguard, Joe Wilson.
On this occasion, the RNLI lifeguards collaborated with Sunderland Lifeboat Station. RNLI Helm Paul Nicholson and lifeboat crew Sam Hart, Lee Stothard and Chris Parks launched the inshore D class Atlantic 85 and responded to the lifeguard's callout to tow the jet ski back to the station.
Both casualties soon recovered, and no further treatment was needed.
Tyne and Wear RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor, Sean Mills, congratulated his team’s efforts:
‘Our lifeguard team across Tyne and Wear has worked very hard over the season. It’s brilliant that so many beachgoers chose to visit a lifeguarded beach this summer and followed our safety advice.’
The charity advises that should people wish to visit a beach during off-season to continue following their Float to Live advice:
If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to:
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Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
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Try to relax
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Control your breathing
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Use your hands to help you stay afloat
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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 on duty at Roker Beach. Photo credit: Toni Carr.
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 142,700 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.