RNLI lifeguards return to East Lindsey coast - but only at Skegness for now

The resort is one of 70 beaches in the UK to have lifeguard cover by peak season - although it is still uncertain whether they will return to Ingoldmells, Sutton-on-Sea and Mablethorpe.

Normally, patrols would start about two weeks earlier, but there have been extra preparations regarding Covid-19, according to East Lindsey Lifeguard Supervisor Arun Gray.

"It's strange to be back because it feels a lot earlier," said Arun. "But we had to make sure we had the right equipment and things in place to keep the lifeguards safe, so we could train them."

In May, ahead of the return of the lifeguards, the RNLI and HM Coastguard launched a beach safety campaign, urging parents to protect their families and save lives at the coast this summer

Thousands of visitors headed for the cast on the first weekend Covid-19 restrictions were eased, and Coastguard rescue teams were called out 194 times in the UK to incidents including; inflatables drifting offshore, crashed jet skis, people injured while out walking or cycling along the coast, paddle boarders, kayakers, windsurfers and kite surfers in difficulty and people cut off by the tide.

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.

Roll-out of the normal seasonal lifeguard service was paused at the end of March due to the measures put in place by the UK Government to control the spread of Coronavirus.

Beaches are being chosen based on risk and popularity. "In Skegness we will have three lifeguards on patrol daily from 10am to 6pm.

"Normally Ingoldmells, Siutton-on-Sea and Mablethorpe beaches would have cover by now so if anyone wants to swim in the sea, Skegness is the safest place at the minute.

"We will be supervising the beach as normal - for most of our duties there is little change. If we are treating people we will be wearing PPE.

"Our responsibility is to keep people safe, so we will be doinf safety announcements regarding social distancing. It's definitely on people's minds."

As cover along the coast is limited to Skegness for the time being, Arun says there are things the people can do to stay safe.

"We would ask visitors to be extra vigilant - to stay within the flags, look after their children and speak to lifeguards to find out if there are any dangerous spots."

For further information on the RNLI beach safety campaign visit: rnli.org/beach2020