#LoveYourLifeguard: Celebrating 25 years of RNLI lifeguards

Lifeguards visit the city

RNLI lifeguards are visiting the cities of London and Edinburgh, with events designed to bring lifeguards to speak to press and public about the importance of their role, not just for those who live near the coast, but for anyone who travels to visit friends, on holiday or day trips.

Around the coast

Events have also been taking place all around the coast of the UK, with more planned for today.  

Visitors to Tenby on Thursday couldn’t fail to spot a stunning sand art installation created to mark the anniversary. Raked into the sand of Tenby’s North Beach alongside the 25th anniversary logo was the figure for the number of lives saved by the lifeguard service in the region since it began – 315 people who are still here thanks to the skill and dedication of RNLI lifeguards in Wales.

Further up the north-west coast, at New Brighton, 42 people lined up on the beach yesterday to represent the number of lives saved by lifeguards in the region since the service was first introduced. Amongst those joining them to mark the occasion were Senior RNLI lifeguard Richard Webster, who has been part of the team since its inception, and Senior Lifeguard Sarah Abbott, who was born the year lifeguarding was introduced to the RNLI.

Lifeguards at Bantham Beach in South Devon were joined at their event this morning by Samuel Macpherson, who was rescued after getting cut off by the tide while windsurfing in May. This evening will see members of the team join others in running, swimming and board paddling as part of the annual Lifeguard Challenge. 

Meet the lifeguards

Our communications team has been working tirelessly to spotlight the people behind the rescues.  

In Skegness, Senior Lifeguard Liam Sumner represents his family’s second generation of lifesavers, inspired to join the RNLI by his dad’s service at Skegness Lifeboat Station.  

Lifeguard Matt Evans has been thanked by Jackie, who he rescued when she got into difficulty when swimming at Littlehampton.  

Two lifeguards in East Dorset have been presented with Royal Humane Society Awards in recognition of their exceptional lifesaving actions, and in Brighton Senior Lifeguard Ben has been reflecting on his first year with the RNLI.

If you’d like to hear more from our lifeguards, don’t forget you can tune in to the We Are Lifeguards podcast, with five episodes that take a closer look at what it’s like to keep people safe at the seaside.

#LoveYourLifeguard

Around the RNLI communities are coming together today to add a splash of red-and-yellow to their day and sharing their support for lifeguards with their online community with the hashtag #LoveYourLifeguard. 

We’ve also received some messages from our ambassadors:

Jake Humphrey – Broadcaster & Podcaster: ‘Congratulations to the RNLI Lifeguards on celebrating 25 years of keeping the UK’s beaches safe, they’ve saved over 2,200 lives since 2001 and work hard to ensure everyone has fun safely on the coast. I was lucky enough to meet some of my local lifeguards in Wells and see the important life-saving work that they do, their support in Norfolk is really appreciated.’  

Toby Anstis – Radio Presenter: ‘Every year RNLI Lifeguards patrol hundreds of beaches across the UK and Channel Islands to help keep our seasides safe. A few years ago, I spent some time with the highly skilled team in Cornwall to see the incredible life-saving work they do first-hand. They're all absolute heroes!’

Our thanks go to everyone who has supported our lifeguards, who have worked tirelessly to organise events or simply worn a splash of red-and-yellow today. RNLI lifeguards have been patrolling the beaches for 25 years. With your help, they will be ready for many more.