
RNLI Lifeguards: A family affair
Father’s Day [Sunday 16 June] holds an extra significance for some Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguards in the south west.
Gareth Barnes, who began lifeguarding for the charity five years ago, is following in the footsteps of his twin daughters Izzy and Maisie, who have been lifeguards for nearly a decade.
Having sold his family business, Gareth now enjoys being in the red and yellows – the lifeguards’ uniform – and has now been joined by another of his daughters, Scarlett, and said it’s been great seeing her progress.
He said: ’Scarlett has worked as a lifeguard for a couple of seasons and now lifeguarding with her, it’s amazing to see how she’s developed.
'At Easter we opened the beach at Treyarnon and I was almost being led by her which was amazing to see.’
Working alongside family members isn’t for everyone, but that’s not the case for Gareth and his daughters.
He said: ’We actually can spend time together, which is lucky as sometimes it can be long days spent just the two of you.
‘Ultimately we just have a great respect for each other, not just as father and daughter but as lifeguards as well and I think that makes it a really enjoyable experience.’
David Revell is another dad who started working as an RNLI lifeguard after his daughter was already patrolling the beaches.
David said: ‘I first discovered there was an opportunity to do it through my connection with Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving Club. As a family, we’ve always been sea people and being part of the club is a great experience and it was the through the club that I realised there was a pathway to becoming an RNLI lifeguard, which is how my daughter Dora got involved and how I became a volunteer lifeguard in 2022.’
A designer by trade, Dave was previously RNLI Water Safety Lead for the south west, which he gave up to join his daughter as an RNLI lifeguard.
‘I’m turning 55 this year and I’d always admired the lifeguards for what they do, but when I applied, I was nervous about whether I was too old for the role.
‘But I completed the inductions, which I was hugely proud of, and I’ve now been involved as both a volunteer lifeguard and paid lifeguard for the last few years, and every time I put on the red and yellows I get a massive sense of pride, but I’m also aware of the great responsibility I have.’
Dave and his daughter Dora have rarely worked together on the beach, but when they did it was a dramatic day. He said: ‘My first day was the only time we’ve been on the beach together, and it was eventful.
‘We were working at Kennack Sands and the helicopter had to come and help rescue a man in difficulty. Having a huge multi-agency shout on your first day in a new role with your daughter alongside is certainly an experience you’re not going to forget.’
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.