Kentish Express Ashford & District
Pandemic hits lifeguard cover at county’s beaches
Responses to the pandemic mean our coastline looks different this year. No lifeguards and security on beaches are some of the issues affecting Kent’s seaside spots. Reports by Chloe Holmwood, Marijke Hall and Sam Williams
Just three of Kent’s beaches are getting lifeguards on patrol.
The RNLI charity usually provides a lifeguard service in 13 spots, but due to the challenges posed by coronavirus and social distancing rules, it has had to choose priority beaches based on a number of factors including safety risks and visitor numbers.
The beaches normally covered are: Leysdown, Minster and Sheerness on Sheppey, Botany Bay, Viking Bay and Joss Bay and Stone Bay in Broadstairs, Margate, Minnis Bay, Westbrook Bay, Ramsgate, St Mildred’s and West Bay.
However, the RNLI has said only Leysdown, Viking Bay and Margate have lifeguard cover so far confirmed.
A spokesman said: “Those are our three confirmed beaches for this summer, but there is a lot of work to look at any additional service we might be able to provide.
“In an ideal world, we’d like that to be a presence on a greater number of beaches, but as the lifeguard depends on so many different elements, such as local authorities, contractors, trainers and recruitment, it’s a complex process.
“We usually start implementing the service in early January to have lifeguards on the beaches by early June, so with the long pause this year because of uncertainty about what the public would be allowed to do, it’s taking a while to work out what might be possible.”
The charity says it needs to work out what proportion of its service it can commit to lifeguards and then it will work with councils to set further priority locations.
Figures show last year the RNLI dealt with 110 incidents at Margate Sands. There were 80 emergencies at Viking Bay and 25 at Leysdown.
Most involved giving first aid and finding missing children but Margate also saw seven major incidents were people needed medical care.
The first patrols began on Viking Bay, in Broadstairs, last Saturday. Dates for the others have not yet been confirmed.
Since the easing of lockdown restrictions, the RNLI has focused on re-establishing the infrastructure required for the lifeguard service including recruitment, training and the ordering and distributing of equipment to beaches.
This year, because of the pandemic, the charity has also had to make sure guards are equipped with appropriate PPE and have been trained to manage the challenges of coronavirus.
Swale council, which would normally have lifeguards patrolling all three of Sheppey’s beaches, said it was actively trying to recruit.
A spokesman said: “The timing of lockdown meant the RNLI were unable to carry out the essential training.
“We are also actively trying to recruit qualified lifeguards directly and are working with our leisure providers to identify any staff who could be trained up.
“If this isn’t possible, we are looking at the possibility of patrols by council officers who can monitor beaches and escalate issues to the appropriate emergency service as necessary, but this would not be a lifeguard service.”
Beaches left without lifeguard patrols will also be without the flag warning system which mark which stretch of water it is safe to head into.
A spokesman added: “We only put flags out if lifeguards are there as it helps signal where is – and isn’t – safe to swim.”