Lifeguards to patrol Weymouth Beach at Easter for the first time
The added safety measures follows a request from Weymouth Town Council
RNLI Lifeguards will patrol Weymouth Beach over the Easter school holidays.
It's the first time that's happen and follows a request from the Town Council.
The lifesaving charity has been working with partners behind the scenes through the challenges of lockdown, to recruit, train and prepare their lifeguards for what is expected to be another busy summer on UK beaches.
The first set of beaches in the south west will go on service at the start of the Easter holidays, for this first time this year this will include Weymouth. The number of beaches will increase through the season until the peak school summer holidays when over 89 beaches across the region will be patrolled.
The RNLI are encouraging the public to follow government advice on social distancing, travel and contact with others when visiting the beach to keep themselves and our lifeguards safe.
Alice Higgins, RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for Weymouth, said:
"We're really pleased to be able to provide additional safety cover on Weymouth beach this Easter. While lockdown restrictions will remain in place, we expect people will want to make the most of their time off during the school holidays and for many this may involve visiting the coast.
"We'd urge anyone wanting to go into the water to visit their nearest lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, having lifeguard patrols on Weymouth allows those in West Dorset to access this service without having to travel too far.
"RNLI lifeguards will provide two weeks of cover over the Easter school holidays and on weekends up until 1 May, when they will then provide full time patrols as is their usual service on Weymouth beach.'"
In 2020, RNLI lifeguards covering the south west saved 56 lives, aided 9,179 people and responded to 6,287 incidents which included water rescues, minor first aid and helping to reunite missing children with their families.
A spokesperson from Weymouth Town Council commented:
"We're delighted to have RNLI lifeguards on patrol over the school holidays. It will help to keep local people safe while they spend time at Weymouth's award-winning, sandy beach. We ask residents visiting the beach to stick to the restrictions and act responsibly. If an area looks busy and social distancing isn't possible - it's not safe and we'd advise coming back at a quieter time.
"We want to be clear this measure is being put in place for the safety of residents and not to encourage visitors from outside the local area. The government guidelines are clear to stay local at this time, but we look forward to welcoming visitors back when it's safe to do so."
Each year the RNLI works in partnership with local authorities and landowners to set up and roll out the lifeguard service, which is complex in normal times even without the challenges of doing so during a pandemic.
Alice adds;
"We have been here before, and with the added benefit of being able to plan ahead, we have developed contingencies should things change.
"The protocols and measures introduced last year because of coronavirus will continue. We are working with Weymouth Town Council, who ask us to provide a lifeguard service on their beaches, to make sure the environment for lifeguards to return to is safe. We will continue to monitor the risk to our people and the public in relation to the pandemic."