Lifeguard cover at Welsh beaches reduced from this evening
RNLI advise 18 beaches will keep their patrols beyond this weekend
Last updated 24th Sep 2020
From this evening the RNLI will reduce the number of lifeguarded beaches in Wales.
But the charity is still providing a lifeguard service on 18 beaches here.
Now members of the public are being urged by the charity to take extra care and be responsible when visiting the beach by knowing their limits and not taking risks.
People are being encouraged to head to one of the 18 lifeguarded beaches in Wales but to maintain social distancing and if that’s not possible, consider spending the day elsewhere.
Beach visitor numbers soared to the highest seen in over a decade in some parts of Wales
Despite the Coronavirus situation and the challenges posed by lockdown restrictions earlier in the year, the RNLI has worked with local authorities and other partners to provide lifeguards on 177 beaches across the UK this summer.
In July, on the hottest day of the year, RNLI lifeguards in Swansea rescued 16 people who were caught in rip currents. On the same day at Three Cliffs, Gower, RNLI lifeguards went to the aid of a young boy and his mother who were caught in a flash rip current.
Chris Cousens, RNLI Water Safety Lead for Wales, said:
“It has been an extremely busy summer for RNLI lifeguards with huge numbers of people visiting beaches in the UK. Our lifeguards have worked really hard and done a fantastic job of keeping people safe at the beach while working in a pandemic.
“They deserve great credit for the commitment and dedication they have shown.
“The majority of our lifeguards’ work is preventative so as well as the rescues and incidents they were involved in, they will have stopped many more potentially dangerous incidents before they occurred.”
He continued:
“We know many people are still on furlough and not holidaying abroad, so it’s likely more people than usual will be visiting the UK coast this September. If you’re visiting the beach, take note of the safety signage at the entrance, go with a friend or tell someone on the shore where you’re going, and always be aware of the conditions and your own capabilities in the water.
“People walking on the coast should check the weather forecast and tide times before setting out and carry a means of communication.”
Here’s a list of the beaches in our region where RNLI lifeguards will remain beyond this weekend:
Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
Tenby Castle, Pembrokeshire
Tenby South, Pembrokeshire
Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire
Newgale Central, Pembrokeshire
Newgale North, Pembrokeshire
Poppit Sands, Pembrokeshire
Whitesands, Pembrokeshire
Langland, Swansea
Caswell, Swansea
Port Eynon, Swansea (weekends only)
Borth, Ceredigion
Llangrannog, Ceredigion
Tresaith, Ceredigion
Aberport, Ceredigion
Whitmore Bay, Vale of Glamorgan
Rest Bay, Bridgend (weekends only)
Trecco Bay, Bridgend