RNLI Beach Lifeguards Return to Southsea and Eastney Beaches this weekend

West Sussex and Hampshire Lifeguards have been patrolling at Littlehampton since the start of May and are now preparing for further patrols commencing on Saturday 11 July at Southsea and Eastney. RNLI Lifeguards will also be setting up patrol at Bognor Regis on July 18, as the peak season starts.

If you’d like to find your nearest lifeguarded beach, service dates and operating times, find out here: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches.  

RNLI lifeguards have been keeping our beaches safer since 2001 and this year the RNLI are celebrating its 25-year anniversary of beach lifesaving service. Figures show that in 2025, RNLI lifeguards saved 16 lives across the South East of England, responding to 2,567 incidents and assisting 2,843 people.

Sydney Horsted, Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Hampshire and West Sussex, said: ‘Over the last couple of months, our lifeguards have been working incredibly hard to keep everyone safe. Alongside our daily patrol, they’ve been maintaining their ongoing fitness training, beach rescue skills, casualty care first aid, Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) training and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) skills.’

‘2026 will see the RNLI Lifeguards celebrate 25 years of lifeguarding and safer beaches. When visiting the beach, it is essential to listen to lifeguard safety advice and swim between the red and yellow flags. We would always encourage any new visitors to have a quick chat to our friendly lifeguards to find out more about local safety advice.

Sydney also adds: ‘We look forward to welcoming everyone to the beaches over the summer season. With the warmer weather, we’d like to remind everyone to take extra care: stay hydrated, seek out shade when you can, and wear protective clothing to keep cool and comfortable.’

While the air temperature is very warm, water temperatures are still cold, so cold water shock remains a very real risk.

Ross Macleod, RNLI Water Safety Manager, said: ‘We are urging families to talk about the dangers of swimming and jumping into open water – this could be a conversation that saves lives.

‘Cold water shock is a real danger, which we particularly want people to be aware of. The sea or open water may look inviting during hot weather, but it remains cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, which can cause uncontrollable gasping, increased heart rate, and can lead to panic and drowning very quickly. It’s best to enter the water slowly to gradually acclimatise.

‘Anyone who finds themselves in danger in the water should fight the panic instinct and Float to Live – try to relax and float on their back, with head tilted back, gently moving their hands and legs to help them stay afloat. This buys valuable time to get your breathing back under control, before then calling for help or swimming to safety.

‘If you see someone else in danger – do not enter the water yourself as you could also end up in serious difficulty. Instead, remember phone, float, throw – phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard; tell the struggling person to float; throw them something buoyant, like a life ring.

‘If you are visiting the coast this weekend, the safest option is a lifeguarded beach, where you should swim between the red and yellow flags. If you can’t choose a lifeguarded beach, find out about your chosen beach before you visit – check weather and tide times and read local safety signage.

‘By remembering this advice and sharing it widely, we can all play a role in helping to save more lives from drowning.’

Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport, at Portsmouth City Council, said:

‘Portsmouth City Council is proud to fund the RNLI lifeguard service at Southsea and Eastney beaches during the summer season. Our seafront is one of the city's greatest attractions, and having highly trained lifeguards on patrol helps residents and visitors enjoy it safely. We would encourage everyone heading to the beach this summer to follow the RNLI's safety advice, swim between the red and yellow flags where possible, and take a few simple precautions to stay safe in and around the water.’

The RNLI is urging anyone visiting the coast this summer to make sure they keep themselves and their families safe by being water smart and following their beach safety advice.  

• Visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.  

• Check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks.  

• For activities like paddleboarding or kayaking we recommend you wear a wetsuit, buoyancy aid or lifejacket and carry a means of calling for help in a waterproof pouch and keep it on you. Tell someone what you are doing, where you are going and when you expect to return.  

• If you are going open water swimming, use a wetsuit to keep you warm, wear a bright coloured swim hat and take a tow float to store personal items including a phone for emergencies.  

• If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and Float.  

• In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.  

-Ends-  

Notes to editor:  

To learn more about RNLI lifeguarded beaches visit: RNLI Lifeguards In The UK And Channel Islands

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Kate Barkley, RNLI Communications Staff Member for RNLI, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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