Don’t swim in the sea if there are no lifeguards on duty – that is the warning from HM Coastguard following updated guidance for England from the Government.
It follows a number of serious incidents along the South and West coast including some where people have sadly died.
Now HM Coastguard is urging everyone to only swim in the sea if a lifeguard is on duty in line with the guidance from the Government about visiting the English coast.
Most beaches are not currently lifeguarded and coastal risks are also increased as local authorities and landowners may not have had the opportunity to make their usual safety provisions.
Now, more than ever, people need to take personal responsibility for keeping themselves safe at the beach.
Claire Hughes, Director of HM Coastguard, has said:
“The Government guidance is clear – if you intend to swim when visiting the coast you should only do so at beaches where there is a lifeguard on duty.
“Help us to help you by following Government guidance and respecting the sea. It doesn’t matter how local or experienced you are, we know just from these last few days that – sadly – the sea can catch anybody out and be unmerciful when it does.”
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You can also help to keep your family and yourself safe on lifeguarded beaches by checking tide times, leaving inflatables at home, checking your kit before you go out on the water and making sure you have means of calling for help if needed. If you get into trouble call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Government guidance for England states that you can go to the beach as long as you are alone, with your household, or with no more than five other people from outside your household and staying two metres apart at all times.
For the full guidance, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation.
What absolute drivel people have been swimming at beaches without lifeguards for hundred years or more so why should we change now. Get RNLI to put lifeguards back and stop using covid-19 as an excuse for everything and trying to dictate all the time
★ weve never had lifeguards here lol
A dangerous ruling. As Mr Justice says, the world is changing, and Governments will ‘use’ CV to bring in rules like this. Next will come a ‘charge’ to visit the beach to ‘pay’ for lifeguards.
Yet the councillor Mr W, selling, ices and beach tat, alledged to be employing cash in hand staff, and selling alcohol will have more punters as people are forced to life guarded patrolled beaches for family days out.
Not our safety but ‘their’ revenue that concerns them most I warrant.
MORE Government / council control. Just a way of forcing people onto beaches where the council then can charge to park, and ‘justify’ any rises ‘to help pay for your safety’ of providing a coast guard, and those owning beach kiosks by the life-guard will do ‘very nicely thankyou’ from such a rule.
Wouldn’t it be of great ‘coincidence’ if a councillor owned such premises?
All it take is large ‘b….’
Martin, you mean ‘Grand Fromage’ I think.
Accurate observation of what the real ‘intent’ is of our caring council is aimed at. Likely ‘charge’ to go on such beaches now that many can’t cheaply ‘escape’ abroad. Never say ‘never’ years ago would never have imagined being charged to park.
Mr Justice could well have a point of CV being used for more control and more cost incurred upon us, all under the ‘guise’ of ‘its for our safety’.
Stop being stupid. There is a phrase in the above report “take personal responsibility” which is what sensible people have always done. If you don’t like the look of the conditions and /or are not confident don’t go in. Stop the “Nanny State” NOW
The trouble now is that there are simply too many people, think of the pictures of Durdle Door, and they all want to go to the same places!
Read the headline again, only Islanders being warned. Not holiday makers.
Havent seen any lifeguards on Blackgangs special beach