RNLI Lifeguards in Newquay smash target in 200th swimming challenge raising £240
RNLI lifeguards in Newquay completed their RNLI 200th anniversary swimming challenge at Waterworld on Friday 2 August, beating their initial time by over 20 minutes.
The lifeguard team wanted to play their part in marking 200 years of saving lives at sea for the RNLI while raising vital funds to allow that work to continue. The challenge also served as an opportunity for lifeguards to come together and celebrate the milestone.
The challenge was to swim 200 underwater and 200 freestyle lengths in under an hour and the lifeguards completed the total 10km challenge in an extraordinary 38 minutes.
The lifeguards also raised a fantastic £240 which will go towards the RNLI and will help fund the the work of the lifeguards, who are now in the full swing of the busy summer season, patrolling beaches daily from 10am-6pm.
RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Newquay, Lewis Timson said:
‘I am very proud of the team and the service, Friday was a great evening and the lifeguards excelled themselves. There was a great atmosphere and team spirit and it was just the boost we needed heading into our busiest week of the year.’
In total 40 RNLI lifeguards took part in the challenge and Senior RNLI Lifeguard, Agustin Lanzavecchia said it was a great occasion to be a part of:
‘It’s very rare that we all get to meet up and so to spend Friday evening together and complete this challenge with fellow lifeguards was a really cool experience to be a part of.
‘I think also we set out to achieve the target in under an hour so to beat that time by 20 minutes is great but I think it is a testament to our fitness and training that we do throughout the season in the sea and on the beach which allowed us to achieve such a good time.
‘Furthermore, the opportunity to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the charity by completing this challenge was a wonderful motivation and finishing it will give us a big boost going forward into our most intense part of the summer.”
Notes to editors
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The photo is of the lifeguards who took part in the challenge at Waterworld
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RNLI lifeguards in Newquay are now in the full swing of lifeguarding with daily patrols from 10am-6pm at Mawgan Porth, Porth, Watergate Bay, Tolcarne, Great Western, Fistral, Crantock and Towan
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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
RNLI at 200
On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.
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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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