The summer is officially over for the voluntary lifeguards at Exmouth Beach Rescue Club, who managed to clock up an impressive number of voluntary hours keeping beach users safe this summer.
In all, 29 members gave up 1,237 hours of their own time, unpaid, to provide the lifeguard patrols on the 18 Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays throughout the summer season.
Over the summer, the club’s voluntary lifeguards performed eight rescues, dealt with 16 first aid incidents and provided advice and guidance to 137 beach users.
In addition to patrols, members continued a fitness and lifeguard skills training programme throughout the summer, with new members being supported and encouraged into the water overseen by experienced coaches.
The club also hosted the Surf Life Saving Great Britain National Championships for the second year running, with members embracing the opportunity to compete on their local beach and to help with the smooth running of a national sporting event.
But that wasn’t all! The club also sent water safety cover to some large national, and smaller local, sporting events. Lifeguards and boat crews from the club provided safety cover for events including the London, Blenheim, Hyde Park, Dawlish and South Hams triathlons, as well as long distance swimming events including the Exe and Starcross swims, organised by the Exmouth Swimming and Life Saving Society.
Club spokesperson, Dan Thorogood, looked back at the achievements of this season and said:
“It truly has been a magnificent year for the club. We have seen our membership grow and our club build on everyone’s strengths. We have very successfully hosted the nationals for the second year running, which benefited not only the club and the seafront, but also businesses in and out of the town. Our members have once again shown they are truly dedicated to voluntary service for their local community, and the season’s figures speak for themselves in what we have achieved. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank all the members, helpers and parents who have kept the club on its feet this year, as well as all those who have supported the club through sponsorship, donations, labour and in any other way. We are a small charity and without such support we would not be able to achieve what we do. Thank you. “
Now the summer is over the club is looking at its winter training programme, which will build on the fitness and life guarding skills training that has been ongoing throughout the summer. Fitness and theory training continues on Tuesday evenings, and Sunday mornings will soon see swim training return along with practical life saving skills in the sea.
For anyone interested in what Exmouth Beach Rescue Club is up to, or if you are interested in joining, take a look at their website www.exmouthbeachrescueclub.org, or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
