The RNLI has come under fire following the deaths of three people at Britain’s beaches over the Bank Holiday weekend after it suspended coastal patrols.
The charity suspended coastline patrols amid the coronavirus crisis in March, but this has angered surfers and local lifeguard groups after three deaths in two days.
More casualties are now feared on unsupervised beaches after two deaths near Padstow in Cornwall on Monday, and a third at Teignmouth in Devon on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Dorset, police and coastguard rescuers are searching for 17-year-old Oscar Montgomery snorkeler who went missing off Portland yesterday afternoon.
Dozens more people have been rescued by volunteer patrols who have mobilised to cover the gaps, with one in Sennen, Cornwall, responding on Tuesday to incidents involving seven people, including a mass rescue of four children stuck in rip tide.
Surfers have demanded the return of lifeguards with 'no excuses', with others saying the RNLI had 'eight weeks with beaches being effectively closed to sort out a plan.'
The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) has called on the Government to restrict access to beaches during half-term as it suspects sunseekers will take advantage of eased lockdown restrictions by heading to the coast.
Digger said
May 28 12:16 PM, 2020
More blame?
Don't go to the beach and swim in the sea when you know there's no lifeguards. It's that simple. Why should volunteer lifeguards risk their lives and the lives of their families for a handful of idiots who flaunt common sense?
This from RNLI Chief Exec
'This puts the RNLI in an impossible situation. With thousands flocking to English beaches now lockdown restrictions have been eased, we must choose between keeping the public or our lifeguards safe.
'Safety advice and warnings will only go so far when people are desperate to enjoy some freedom after weeks of lockdown. As a lifesaving charity, the RNLI cannot stop people going to beaches - but the government can - before more lives are lost around our coast this summer.
'Rolling out a lifeguard service - especially in a pandemic - is not as simple as putting a lifeguard on a beach. We found out about the easing of lockdown restrictions in England at the same time and in the same way as the general public. Contrast that with shops, which were given three weeks' notice and even car showrooms have been given 7-days warning to prepare.
'We have to work out how to do in-water rescues and give first aid - normally conducted at close quarters and often with people coughing up water. We have to find PPE that will work on a beach and in the water - visors and aprons are no good on a rescue board. And we have to train our lifeguards in procedures to reduce the risk of infection. All this takes time and we learnt of the lifting of restrictions at the same time as everyone else.
-- Edited by Digger on Thursday 28th of May 2020 12:17:47 PM
Anonymous said
May 28 12:24 PM, 2020
I read this AM and felt like you, why should the volunteers risk their lives for idiots that can't follow simple rules.
Vicks said
May 28 2:10 PM, 2020
Ridiculous blaming the RNLI
Why should they risk their lives for a bunch of idiots, it's the same as these morons that go up the Scottish mountains ill prepared and then expect to get rescued.
A rescue team had to go up Ben Nevis earlier this year in a blizzard and risk their lives for three twats wearing TRAINING SHOES!!
They should have left them there!!
-- Edited by Vicks on Thursday 28th of May 2020 02:12:58 PM
Jobless Oddball said
May 28 6:50 PM, 2020
Interesting thread starter. wrote:
I read this AM and felt like you, why should the volunteers risk their lives for idiots that can't follow simple rules.
Shame the Chief Executive doesn't volunteer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The table below spells out the Chief Executive's total package for 2018:
Total
£195,413* as per the 2018 Annual Report
* Includes salary, pension car and employer’s NI contribution. Previous accounts excluded employer’s NI contributions.
The RNLI appointed a new Chief Executive in May 2019, who is paid a yearly salary of £160,000
The RNLI has come under fire following the deaths of three people at Britain’s beaches over the Bank Holiday weekend after it suspended coastal patrols.
The charity suspended coastline patrols amid the coronavirus crisis in March, but this has angered surfers and local lifeguard groups after three deaths in two days.
More casualties are now feared on unsupervised beaches after two deaths near Padstow in Cornwall on Monday, and a third at Teignmouth in Devon on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Dorset, police and coastguard rescuers are searching for 17-year-old Oscar Montgomery snorkeler who went missing off Portland yesterday afternoon.
Dozens more people have been rescued by volunteer patrols who have mobilised to cover the gaps, with one in Sennen, Cornwall, responding on Tuesday to incidents involving seven people, including a mass rescue of four children stuck in rip tide.
Surfers have demanded the return of lifeguards with 'no excuses', with others saying the RNLI had 'eight weeks with beaches being effectively closed to sort out a plan.'
The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) has called on the Government to restrict access to beaches during half-term as it suspects sunseekers will take advantage of eased lockdown restrictions by heading to the coast.
More blame?
Don't go to the beach and swim in the sea when you know there's no lifeguards. It's that simple. Why should volunteer lifeguards risk their lives and the lives of their families for a handful of idiots who flaunt common sense?
This from RNLI Chief Exec
'This puts the RNLI in an impossible situation. With thousands flocking to English beaches now lockdown restrictions have been eased, we must choose between keeping the public or our lifeguards safe.
'Safety advice and warnings will only go so far when people are desperate to enjoy some freedom after weeks of lockdown. As a lifesaving charity, the RNLI cannot stop people going to beaches - but the government can - before more lives are lost around our coast this summer.
'Rolling out a lifeguard service - especially in a pandemic - is not as simple as putting a lifeguard on a beach. We found out about the easing of lockdown restrictions in England at the same time and in the same way as the general public. Contrast that with shops, which were given three weeks' notice and even car showrooms have been given 7-days warning to prepare.
'We have to work out how to do in-water rescues and give first aid - normally conducted at close quarters and often with people coughing up water. We have to find PPE that will work on a beach and in the water - visors and aprons are no good on a rescue board. And we have to train our lifeguards in procedures to reduce the risk of infection. All this takes time and we learnt of the lifting of restrictions at the same time as everyone else.
-- Edited by Digger on Thursday 28th of May 2020 12:17:47 PM
I read this AM and felt like you, why should the volunteers risk their lives for idiots that can't follow simple rules.
Ridiculous blaming the RNLI
Why should they risk their lives for a bunch of idiots, it's the same as these morons that go up the Scottish mountains ill prepared and then expect to get rescued.
A rescue team had to go up Ben Nevis earlier this year in a blizzard and risk their lives for three twats wearing TRAINING SHOES!!
They should have left them there!!
-- Edited by Vicks on Thursday 28th of May 2020 02:12:58 PM
Shame the Chief Executive doesn't volunteer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The table below spells out the Chief Executive's total package for 2018:
* Includes salary, pension car and employer’s NI contribution. Previous accounts excluded employer’s NI contributions.
The RNLI appointed a new Chief Executive in May 2019, who is paid a yearly salary of £160,000