Vigilant RNLI lifeguard rescues two young people at Skegness Beach

As many beachgoers relaxed while enjoying warm and sunny conditions at Lincolnshire’s Skegness Beach, two young people unexpectedly found themselves in difficulty at high tide on 29 May.

The life-threatening situation rapidly unfolded during a brief moment when parents had 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 visible sign of distress coming from either young person, neither the parents nor the many nearby visitors at Skegness Beach were aware of what was taking place within close proximity of one of the UK’s most popular seaside resorts.

It was thanks to a vigilant watch over this lifeguarded stretch of beach that RNLI Senior Lifeguard Liam Sumner spotted something was amiss. Two young people that Liam had observed earlier were no longer with their parents nor visible elsewhere on the beach.

There were no shouts, no panicked splashing in the water and no-one looking overly concerned in the vicinity. Liam had last seen the two young people down by a steep bank but now they were nowhere to be seen.

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.’

Now in his eleventh season as an RNLI lifeguard, Liam knows that obvious signs of distress are not always visible when someone gets into difficulty in the water.

‘As a lifeguard, much of what we do is maintaining a constant, vigilant watch over the beach. We aim to spot potential situations before they occur or that something might be off when nothing else gives away that someone is in difficulty in the water.’

Liam added: ‘It is crucial for parents to know where their family are at all times, particularly when young people are playing near the sea. We advise parents to always have their family swim between the red and yellow flags at an RNLI lifeguarded beach. This provides the backup of another set of eyes in addition to your own, helping to ensure the safety of your family.’

In Lincolnshire, Skegness and Mablethorpe beaches are currently patrolled by RNLI lifeguards daily between 10am and 6pm. From 11 July, Sutton-on-Sea Beach will also join the lifeguarding rota with daily patrols. All three beaches will be patrolled this year by RNLI lifeguards until Sunday 6 September.

When visiting the beach this summer remember:

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

· Keep a close eye on your family - on the beach and in the water - don't allow your family to swim alone.

· If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE. Find out how here: Float To Live – What To Do In An Emergency – RNLI

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

Notes to editors

· The names of the young people rescued cannot be provided due to their age.

· RNLI lifeguarded beaches provide extra safety for families visiting the coast.

· Throughout 2026, the RNLI is celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the lifeguarding service.

RNLI image captions

Image 1: RNLI lifeguard Liam Sumner rescued two young people at Skegness Beach (Credit: RNLI/Isabelle Wattam)

Image 2: Skegness Beach is patrolled daily by RNLI lifeguards until Sunday 6 September (Credit: RNLI/Brad Johnson)

Image 3: Lifeguard vigilance is crucial for spotting those who might be in difficulty in the water (Credit: RNLI/Nick Mailer)

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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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