Annual RNLI campaign educates Welsh pupils on coastal dangers

RNLI lifeguards are getting ready to 'Hit the Surf' again this summer as the charity’s beach safety programme makes its annual return to Whitmore Bay and Tenby.

Last year over 2,900 pupils from across South and West Wales joined the RNLI lifeguards for a day on the beach – learning vital safety skills ahead of the summer holidays.

The team will return to both Tenby’s South beach and Whitmore Bay in the Vale of Glamorgan from today as they start a new term of Hit the Surf.

Last year, over 760 youngsters from across Pembrokeshire joined the RNLI team at Tenby’s South beach and 480 pupils learnt new skills with the lifeguards on Whitmore Bay in Barry.

After a safety talk by the team the children will get their wetsuits on, grab a rescue board and head to the sea with a team of lifeguards.

During each Hit the Surf session the youngsters are taught the meaning of beach flags, the dangers of rip currents and what to do if caught in one; the dangers of tombstoning and the importance of swimming between the red and yellow flags.

Hit the Surf will travel the coast of Wales over the next six weeks as they visit Whitesands, Newport, Poppit Sands and New Quay in west Wales as well as Aberavon and Whitmore Bay on the south coast.