RNLI marks Lifeguard Appreciation Day by thanking lifeguards in North and East

On Lifeguard Appreciation Day, the RNLI is marking the work of its lifeguards who keep the beaches safe in North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, North Yorkshire, East Riding, North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk.

The celebration is intended to recognise the dedication, professionalism and lifesaving impact of RNLI lifeguards who help keep millions of beach visitors safe each year.

In the North and East, RNLI lifeguards patrol 44 beaches within North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, North Yorkshire, East Riding, Lincolnshire, North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk.

The day comes during a landmark year for the RNLI's lifeguard service, which is simultaneously celebrating its 25-year anniversary of patrolling beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. Since the service launched in 2001, RNLI lifeguards have saved 2,165 lives, aided more than 459,000 people, responded to over 333,000 incidents, and carried out more than 48 million preventative actions. They are also a presence across beaches in the North and East of England.

RNLI lifeguards are best known for rescuing people in difficulty in the water, but much of their work takes place before an incident ever develops. Around 95% of a lifeguard's role is prevention, from advising swimmers about rip currents and changing conditions to helping families stay safe on the beach and reuniting lost children with their parents.

Today, the RNLI provides lifeguard patrols on more than 245 beaches nationally, making it the UK's largest lifeguard service provider. The service has grown significantly since its pilot scheme in 2001, when lifeguards patrolled 26 beaches across the south and south-west of England. In that first year alone, lifeguards aided 2,801 people and saved 20 lives.

Peter Dawes, RNLI Lifeguard General Manager, said: ‘On International Lifeguard Appreciation Day, we want to thank every RNLI lifeguard, past and present, for the extraordinary contribution they make to public safety.

This year marks 25 years of RNLI lifeguards keeping beaches safer, and the impact they have had is remarkable. More than 2,000 lives have been saved thanks to their skill, commitment, and professionalism. As a charity, we are incredibly proud of what they have achieved and grateful to the supporters whose donations help train, equip and sustain this lifesaving service.’

Before taking up a patrol position, RNLI lifeguards undertake extensive training, including fitness assessments, rescue techniques, and casualty care. This ensures they are prepared to respond to a wide range of incidents and emergencies.

CASE STUDY:

Within the North and East, Liam Sumner is a RNLI senior lifeguard who patrols beaches at Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea in Lincolnshire. Liam joined the RNLI lifeguarding service back in 2016, having been inspired by his father’s voluntary service as RNLI lifeboat crew at Skegness in a Mersey all-weather lifeboat (ALB) as well as an in-shore lifeboat (ILB). Liam now represents the second generation of RNLI lifesaver in his family.

Now in his eleventh season as a RNLI Lifeguard, Liam Sumner has undertaken many notable rescues. Among them, Liam assisted in the rescue of a 13-year-old female who found herself struggling against strong waves at Mablethorpe in August 2021.

The casualty’s mother had attempted to support her daughter - who was quickly going under - but both began to struggle in the choppy conditions just 20 metres from the shoreline. Liam and fellow RNLI Lifeguard Lois Kemp rushed into the water to assist, using rescue tubes to keep the casualties afloat before bringing them both safely back to shore.

In recent months, on 29 May 2026, Liam’s vigilant watch as a RNLI lifeguard over beachgoers at Skegness beach resulted in him dashing into the water to rescue two young people who had unexpectedly found themselves in difficulty at high tide.

The life-threatening situation rapidly unfolded when parents had briefly left the shore to speak with friends. Behind them, their two young family members – neither of whom could swim – slipped beneath the water.

With no shouts and no panicked splashing in the water, neither the parents nor the many nearby visitors at Skegness Beach were aware of what was taking place in such close proximity to one of the UK’s most popular seaside resorts. However, thanks to keen situational awareness, Liam noticed something was amiss.

The two young people he had observed earlier were no longer with their parents nor visible on the beach. Liam had last seen the two young people down by a steep bank but now they were nowhere to be seen.

On the rescue, Liam said: ‘I grabbed a floatation tube and ran into the water where I’d last seen the two young people. I quickly found them and they were both beneath the surface. I threw the floatation tube into the water and scooped each of them up by under the arms. They grabbed onto the floatation tube, both clearly distressed and non-swimmers. We worked our way back to the shore, where their relieved parents ran down to see what had happened.’

Serving since 2016, Liam is unusually experienced among RNLI lifeguards. On the appeal of his work, Liam said: ‘I have returned to RNLI lifeguarding year-after-year because there’s nothing like it. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing you have saved a life. Some rescues, such as those involving particularly young people – who have been only moments away from drowning – really stick with you. I try to distance myself from the emotions that come with this work but once, many years ago, a parent referred to me as a ‘guardian angel’ when referring to my rescue of their son at the beach by Ingoldmells. I’m still really touched by that even now. While lifeguards don’t actively look for praise, it is of course nice to be appreciated.’

In future, Liam would like to keep working for the RNLI, either by continuing in service as a lifeguard or supporting in a water safety role later.

On what has changed during his many seasons as a RNLI lifeguard, Liam said: ‘As lifeguards, we always need to be well trained, capable, and vigilant on the beaches. In the last two years, the beaches have been much busier and that likely ties in with a warmer climate and successive heatwaves. We also find ourselves in need of being more ready for societal issues too such an anti-social behaviour. Our priority is always prevention and, where that has not been possible, we act to undertake a prompt and successful rescue of anyone who gets into difficulty in the water.’

As families continue to enjoy the coast this summer, the RNLI is encouraging people to choose a lifeguarded beach whenever possible and to swim between the red and yellow flags.

To find your nearest RNLI lifeguarded beach, visit rnli.org/lifeguardedbeach.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The RNLI lifeguard service is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026.

• Since 2001, RNLI lifeguards have:

• Saved 2,165 lives
• Aided 459,354 people
• Responded to 333,330 incidents
• Carried out more than 48 million preventative actions.

• RNLI lifeguards patrol more than 245 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands during the peak season, of which 44 beaches are situated within the North and East.

• The RNLI is a charity and depends on voluntary donations to fund the training, equipment and support needed to deliver its lifesaving services.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please email Gillian Carmoodie, Communications Placement at [email protected], Richard Grange, Regional Communications Lead at [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Gillian Carmoodie, 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.