RNLI boss urges Government to restrict access to beaches until lifeguards return

Local RNLI crews were called out several times over the Bank Holiday weekend to rescue people in trouble along North Somerset coast

RNLI chiefs are pressing the Government to restrict access to the coast until lifeguard patrols return to beaches.

The chief executive of the RNLI Mark Dowie issued an open letter to Government bosses calling for restrictions to be brought in, at the same time as lifesaving crews attended a number of rescues along the North Somerset coast.

A huge emergency response was sparked to rescue a man trapped on the rocks in Clevedon on Saturday, while lifesaving crews were called out several times over the weekend in Weston-super-Mare.

Four people had to be rescued from the sea by Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare on a busy Bank Holiday weekend for the town's coastguard team.

The team was called to three separate incidents on Bank Holiday Monday including to people stuck in mud on the shore line at Knightstone Island and to people in the water at Birnbeck Island.

Four people were also spotted way out on the tideline, also at Knightstone Island.

In other areas of the UK people lost their lives over the weekend after running into difficulties along the coast.

Two people – including a 17-year-old girl – died in separate incidents along the Cornish coastline on Monday.

Currently there are no RNLI lifeguards at beaches across the UK due to the pandemic.

Despite the ongoing challenges posed by coronavirus and social distancing the RNLI still hopes to provide a lifeguard service on around 30% of the beaches the charity usually covers in time for the traditional peak summer season.

Both of the rescue services are still on call ready to respond to emergencies.

More and more people have been flocking to beaches along the North Somerset coast following the easing of the Government lockdown.

The changes to Government guidance means people can also travel further afield - such as coastal resorts - as long as they return to their main residence at night.

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And with the good weather set to continue, coastal resorts are expected to stay busy.

The RNLI has stations in Weston-super-Mare and Portishead.

In his letter Mr Dowie said: “With thousands flocking to English beaches now lockdown restrictions have been eased, we must choose between keeping the public or our lifeguards safe.

“Safety advice and warnings will only go so far when people are desperate to enjoy some freedom after weeks of lockdown.

“As a lifesaving charity, the RNLI cannot stop people going to beaches – but the Government can – before more lives are lost around our coast this summer.”

Mr Dowie said the RNLI “found out about the easing of lockdown restrictions in England” at the same time as the general public and without time to prepare.

The charity now faces having to work out how to perform in-water rescues and give first aid in a way that protects staff from risk of infection and find PPE that will work on a beach and in the water, he said.

Mr Dowie added, like many other charities, the organisation faced a £45 million shortfall in its funding by the end of 2020 due to many of its fundraising activities being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And he urged people to 'heed the advice' to stay away from the coast until lifeguard patrols were in place.

“We’re asking for help to manage an impossible situation – we’re asking the public to heed our safety advice and we’re asking the Government to restrict access to the coast until we have lifeguard patrols back on beaches,” he added.

“Only then can we keep the public safe from the sea and our lifeguards safe from the virus.”

In 2019, RNLI lifeguards aided more than 29,000 people on UK beaches in more than 17,000 incidents, saving a total of 154 lives.

They also helped to reunite nearly 1,800 lost children and teenagers with their families and aided 346 people in incidents involving inflatables.