42 people lined New Brighton Beach as RNLI celebrates 25 years of lifeguards
The RNLI lined up 42 people on New Brighton Beach to mark 25 years since the charity introduced its lifeguarding service.
The display will provide a visual representation of the number of lives RNLI lifeguards have saved in the region since patrols were first introduced.
It is being staged ahead of International Lifeguard Appreciation Day on Friday, July 31, as the charity celebrates a quarter of a century of keeping people safe on beaches across the UK and Channel Islands.
The RNLI launched its lifeguarding service in Cornwall in 2001 before expanding patrols to Sefton in 2010 and the Wirral in 2015.
Lifeguards now patrol Formby, Crosby, Ainsdale and Southport beaches in Sefton.
Since the service began, Sefton lifeguards have responded to 7,303 incidents, helped 45,955 people and saved 23 lives.
Crosby is also the only beach covered by the RNLI to have lifeguards on duty 365 days a year, including Christmas Day.
At Formby, lifeguards have attended 1,325 incidents, helped 9,221 people and saved one life.
On the Wirral, RNLI lifeguards patrol West Kirby, Moreton, Harrison Drive, Leasowe Bay, The Plateaux and New Brighton.
They have responded to 3,515 incidents, helped 16,368 people and saved 18 lives since patrols began in the borough.
Among those taking part in the New Brighton display will be local triathlete Myka Heard, who has personal experience of how important the lifeguarding service can be, even for experienced swimmers.
Myka became overwhelmed after being struck by waves while competing in the Mersey Aquathlon in 2024.
Her experience highlighted how quickly conditions in open water can change and why lifeguards play such an important role in keeping beach visitors and swimmers safe.
Myka says:
‘I got tumbled several times in the water and became really disorientated. The shore suddenly seemed very far away. I realised how quickly things can change and how hard it would have been to get back on my own.’
After assistance from RNLI lifeguards, Myka was able to stay calm, regain control and continue the swim.
‘Even very strong swimmers can get intro trouble – the RNLI lifeguarding service is so important. Even my small interaction with them that day gave me an insight into their professionalism and the essential service they provide. I have since suffered a stroke and am more cautious entering the sea, only doing so with lifeguards on duty.’
Long-standing Senior Lifeguard Richard Webster, joined the service 10 years ago at the age of 50. Throughout his many years of service, Richard is proud to be part of the RNLI, and has many highlights over his career, one being invited to Westminster Abbey for the 200th anniversary.
Richard said:
‘Growing up on the coast and always living near the sea meant I had knowledge of the RNLI from a very early age.
‘It wasn’t until I reached 50 that I found I had the time in my life to fulfil with a different role, lifeguarding always appealed to me.’
Throughout Richard’s many years with the RNLI, he has seen the service change, through advancements in technology, monitoring, reporting, but the core of lifeguarding has remained the same.
Richard said:
‘In lifeguarding you have to work together as a team and be there for each other. For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of lifeguarding is being a part of the education, safety talks to young children. Having the opportunity to teach water safety to children from a young age, is really important as it may one day save a life.’
Senior RNLI Lifeguard Sarah Abbott, 24, joined in 2019 when she was just 17 years old and has completed seven seasons with the RNLI. She was born in 2001 when the service was first introduced and on the 25th anniversary of lifeguarding she is proud of the effect lifeguarding has had on people’s lives.
She said:
‘Over the years, our team has grown in size and diversity which represents the service as a whole. Each year we respond to more and more incidents which really drives us to organise more training sessions and get creative so we are ready for anything we might come across. It is amazing to see the impact the service is having on the nation alongside the work the lifeboats do, as well as the positivity and respect we receive from our local communities.
‘Without the training, technology and equipment, we wouldn’t be able to provide such a high level of care and response when needed. Each year we receive updated casualty care training to reflect the current teachings and best practices, as well as being provided with the equipment needed to ensure both the public and our safety while visiting the beaches.
‘Over the last couple of years I’ve found people are a lot more informed on the risks at the coast, even those unsure on specific risks or the local area know to ask a lifeguard to avoid getting into trouble. The best thing about being a lifeguard is the opportunities it provides, the people you meet on the way and the confidence you develop.’
In addition to working on Wirral’s beaches Sarah has also helped to patrol the North Wales beach Prestatyn. It was here she experienced one of the most memorable rescues and became acutely aware of how quickly the coastal environment can change. With currents and wind pulling visitors to sharp rock groynes, Sarah and her colleagues entered the water to rescue two teenagers.
Lifeguards spend much of their time taking preventative actions to help keep the public safe, RNLI beach lifeguards in the Formby area have carried out 173,573 preventative actions, Sefton 1,026,400 and Wirral 817,353.
Sarah adds:
‘While you may not always see us actively ‘saving lives’ in the traditional sense, a lot of dedication and training goes on behind the scenes, accompanied by preventative actions throughout the season, reducing the risk for many people visiting the beaches before they find themselves in an emergency situation.’
The sea can be unpredictable and there are moments when the team must intervene in challenging conditions.
Peter Dawes, RNLI Lifeguard General Manager, said:
‘As a charity we are here to save lives at sea. 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.’
The anniversary celebration will recognise the thousands of incidents attended by RNLI lifeguards and the people they have assisted during the past 25 years.
The charity is also using International Lifeguard Appreciation Day to thank its lifeguards for their skill, commitment and work protecting people at the coast.
