RNLI lifeguards mark 25 years as they return to North Devon beaches for Easter

The familiar sight of RNLI lifeguards will be returning to some North Devon beaches this Easter as the vital services marks its 25th anniversary of saving lives in the South West.

Lifeguard patrols will be back at Croyde and Woolacombe from Good Friday, April 3 until April 19, then the following weekend and full time summer patrols begin on May 2.

Patrols return to Westward Ho! and Sandymere beaches on May 16.

Above: North Devon beaches get very busy in summer but the RNLI lifeguards are always there watching over everyone. Credit: RNLI

These days it seems normal to spot the familiar white RNLI lifeguard truck on local beaches during the warmer months, but back in 2001 there was no official lifeguard service – and people were drowning each year on South West beaches.

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The RNLI decided to take action when stark figures showed some 200 people were dying on UK beaches and it set up a pilot lifeguard service on 15 South West beaches, mainly in Cornwall.

The results were obvious and immediate, with the RNLI saying 20 lives were saved in the first year alone.

The service soon rolled out in North Devon and across the country.

Above: RNLI lifeguards are given the training and equipment to cope with some extreme sea conditions. Credit: RNLI

North Devon has a long history of surf-lifesaving, with local police and surfers starting their own patrols on beaches as early as 1960, following too many drowning deaths.

Over the years the police involvement dwindled and helped create North Devon Surf Lifesaving Club which eventually became Saunton Sands Surf Life Saving Club, Woolacombe Surf Lifesaving Club and Croyde Surf Lifesaving Club, which all continue to this day.

The RNLI lifeguard service has since expanded to more than 90 beaches in the South West and 245 nationwide.

Above: The RNLI lifeguards are marking their 25th anniversary this year and will be back in North Devon at Easter. Credit: RNLI/Nathan Williams

Since 2001, the RNLI says its lifeguards in the South West have saved 1,098 lives and helped 167,592 people through rescues, interventions and delivering casualty care. They have responded to 185,954 incidents and carried out more than 22million preventative actions.

In North Devon, with often deadly rip currents on its surf beaches, large scale rescues are quite common during the holiday season.

In June last year alone, RNLI lifeguards and lifeboat crews saved five paddleboarders off Westward Ho! in one incident and a few days later lifeguards rescued five swimmers at Woolacombe.

Peter Dawes, RNLI Lifeguard general manager, said: “Thanks to RNLI lifeguards our beaches are safer places, so we can enjoy our time at the coast and return home safely at the end of the day.

“Around 95% of a lifeguard’s work is prevention. They keep beachgoers safe by educating them about water safety and spotting the dangers before accidents happen.

“RNLI lifeguards past and present have kept millions of beach visitors safe over the past 25 years and will continue to do so for years to come. If you are planning a visit to the coast this summer, please remember to visit a lifeguarded beach.”

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 at https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches

Above: Heavy surf often makes beach rescues challenging for the RNLI lifeguards. Credit: RNLI