More beaches in West Country to get lifeguard cover

The RNLI will be patrolling a further 27 beaches in England, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands from this weekend.

In Cornwall, from today (Saturday 13 June) lifeguards will now also cover beaches at: Sennen, Porthmeor, Hayle Towans, Poldhu, Praa Sands and Watergate Bay.

They will also cover Weymouth in Dorset.

It now means 16 beaches in the West Country have RNLI lifeguard cover:

  • Widemouth

  • Gwithian

  • Fistral

  • Mawgan

  • Porth

  • Polzeath

  • Constantine

  • Perranporth

  • Sennen

  • Porthmeor

  • Hayle Towans

  • Poldhu

  • Praa Sands

  • Watergate Bay

  • Croyde Bay (Devon)

  • Weymouth (Dorset)

It now means 16 beaches in the West Country have RNLI lifeguard cover Credit: Leon Bennett/RNLI

Protective equipment has been rolled out to all lifeguards to ensure their safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since patrols were reintroduced on nine beaches in Cornwall and Devon in late May, the new ways of working have been ‘properly put to the test’.

The RNLI says it is now confident it can safely provide a more comprehensive lifeguard service this summer, despite the continuing challenges created by the pandemic.

More beaches are expected to have lifeguard cover from next weekend (20 June).

Cornwall council, HM Coastguard and the RNLI are all reminding people that the sea is potentially dangerous and a family day out is 'safer on the sand'. Credit: Becky Bright/RNLI

Cornwall council, HM Coastguard and the RNLI are all reminding people that the sea is potentially dangerous and a family day out is 'safer on the sand'.

There are concerns that the return of lifeguards might cause people to 'relax their attention to beach safety and social distancing'.

Rob Nolan, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection said: