RNLI lifeguards receive royal recognition in 25th anniversary year

Coinciding with International Lifeguard Appreciation Day, the special event brought together RNLI lifeguards past and present to celebrate the dedication, skill and commitment that have helped save lives on beaches across the UK and Channel Islands for a quarter of a century.

One of the lifeguards attending was Matty Mcleod who would normally be patrolling beaches in Pembrokeshire as Lead Lifeguard Supervisor.

Matty saved the life of Londoner Joanna Hicks who was visiting Newgale beach in Pembrokeshire. Joanna found herself in a rip current and was in difficulty, she had lost consciousness in the sea, was face down in the water and her life was in danger.

When Matty became aware of the situation, he immediately grabbed his rescue board and headed into the water. Matty dragged Joanna through the water to the shore, when the battle to bring her back to life began. With the help of a nurse on the beach, Matty gave Joanna CPR before handing over to the ambulance service.

Matty’s actions and the skill and professionalism he showed meant Joanna’s life was saved and she was able to make a full recovery.

Matty was joined by Joanna in a special moment as he received the Thanks of the Institution Award for Gallantry from HRH The Duke of Kent.

Matty said:

‘Receiving this award is a real honour, but it reflects the teamwork, training and support that all RNLI lifeguards receive. I'm grateful that I was in the right place at the right time to help Joanna, and it's incredibly special to be able to share this moment with her and see how well she has recovered.’

Also at Kensington Palace for the special event, Janet Legrand, Chair of the RNLI, said:

‘Matty's actions demonstrate the very best of RNLI lifeguarding. His professionalism, quick thinking and commitment under pressure helped save a life and gave Joanna the chance to make a full recovery.

"Every RNLI lifeguard undergoes extensive training to prepare them for a wide range of incidents, from preventative beach safety work and rescues in challenging conditions through to delivering casualty care in life-threatening situations. We are incredibly proud of lifeguards like Matty, whose skill, dedication and courage make such a difference to people visiting our coastline.

From beach safety and prevention to rescuing those in the water and delivering casualty care RNLI lifeguards are prepared to deal with any situation they might face.

Since 2001, RNLI lifeguards have saved 2,165 lives, aided 459,354 people through water rescue, returning lost children and delivering first aid and casualty care. They have responded to 333, 330 incidents and carried out more than 48M preventative actions.

Two former RNLI lifeguards who were involved in the early days of the service were also invited to Kensington Palace for the special event. Dan Sharp, now Head of Production at the RNLI and Mike Grocott, now Head of Region for the RNLI in Ireland. It was an opportunity for both to reflect on the journey they have been on from patrolling beaches and keeping the public safe to the roles they are in today.

Dan Sharp said: "Being an RNLI lifeguard during summer breaks at university was a very rewarding experience and where my passion for the RNLI first developed. I have been given the most amazing opportunities since joining the RNLI and feel incredibly lucky to have built a career that enables me to continue to help save lives - it's amazing to think it all started on Branksome Beach in 2002."

If you are heading to the coast this Easter, try to find a lifeguarded beach if possible. Your nearest RNLI lifeguarded beach can be found here - https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches.·

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.