'Safest way to enjoy a day by the sea': RNLI lifeguards returnto East Lindsey beaches for Bank Holiday weekend
RNLI lifeguards are set to return to beaches along the East Lindsey coast ahead of the busy Spring Bank Holiday weekend in what is a milestone 25 years for the service.
After weeks of ‘vital pre-season training’, lifeguards from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will begin daily patrols at Skegness Beach and Mablethorpe Beach between 10am and 6pm from Saturday, May 23, .
The service will later expand to include Sutton-on-Sea Beach from July 11, with patrols remaining in place across all three beaches until September 6.
According to the RNLI, its lifeguarding teams across the North and East are ready for whatever the summer season brings. Nationally, lifeguard assisted incidents doubled last year to save more than 36,000 people, compared to 17,000 in 2024.
RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan said: “After completing their pre-season training, our lifeguards are ready and excited to return to the beach.
“This year marks 25 years of the RNLI lifeguard service, and we’re encouraging everyone to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags so they can enjoy the coast safely.”
Councillor Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council, said the patrols provide important reassurance for residents and tourists visiting the Lincolnshire coast.
He said: “The lifeguarded beaches at Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea provide reassurance and safety for the thousands of visitors who flock to the Lincolnshire coast and our Blue Flag beaches each summer.
“The Council is pleased to once again support the RNLI and the vital work they do in ensuring our main beaches are patrolled during the busiest times of the season.”
He added: “As well as keeping a watchful eye on the water, RNLI lifeguards offer valuable safety advice to visitors. Choosing a lifeguarded beach and following their guidance is the safest way to enjoy a day by the sea.”
The RNLI is reminding beachgoers to choose lifeguarded beaches wherever possible and always swim between the red and yellow flags.
Visitors are also being encouraged to remember the charity’s “Float to Live” advice if they find themselves in difficulty in the water unexpectedly.