Lifeguards on the beach at Ryde carried out 48 rescues during the summer months and saved the lives of 22 people, according to Ryde Town Council.
During the summer period, the lifeguards were on duty and alert for families and other visitors heading to the seaside town with a newly-released report highlighting just how important their service has been to the community.
It’s been revealed that the lifeguards intervened on no less than 299 occasions, making 48 rescues and saving the lives of 22 persons. First aid was given to 21 people.
Two-thirds of all interventions were to visitors to the Island – one-third Islanders.
Todd Miller, Team Leader for Ryde Lifeguards, has said:
“It was a particularly challenging year for us, with an extremely busy August with a lot of rescues being performed and certainly many lives saved, aided with the addition of the IRB [Inshore Rescue Boat]. I am very proud of my team and the service we provide for Ryde”.
During the summer it was estimated that 36,000 visitors attended the beach in Ryde.
Ryde Town Council, who commission and pay for the lifeguard services on Ryde beach, acknowledge the service delivery and the outcomes delivered by the team and have indicated their continued financial support for the safety and wellbeing of beach users in Ryde.
Councillor Karen Lucioni, Chair of Facilities and assets at Ryde Town Council, has said:
“Once again we see the first-class service and work that our young lifeguards deliver for Ryde and I am humbled and heartened by the saving of lives they have made. That means so much to many families and I thank them one and all for their dedication and hard work in keeping our beaches safe”
Due to the success of the service, the lifeguards are looking into the feasibility of an ATV (quad bike) which would be a great additional asset to the existing service. Additionally, plans are under way to red flagging the far end of the beach by the harbour and to work with RTC and the IWC to get additional signage by Ryde Harbour to warn visitors of the clear dangers involved with swimming in this part of the beach.
Wow, I have lived here all my life, and only ever remember one sad case of some little children being drowned when the tide cut them off whilst they were out on a sandbank at Appley beach Ryde.
They may have helped some people, but to say they have ‘saved over twenty lives’ is a little OTT.
We managed for years with out them and had, for most years no deaths.
The sandbanks are safer now as the tide does not ‘cut you off’ as it once did.
An expensive luxury which should be done by volunteers imo.
Still Cllr Whittle would lose rent, so it will be safe and ring fenced
Rule of 6
Government guidlines?????????