BBC News | UK | 'Baywatch' comes to UK beaches

Professional lifeguards could become more widespread on UK beaches following the launch of a pilot scheme by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The RNLI's first-ever teams of lifeguards will use a range of Baywatch-style kit, including rescue boats, a jet ski, rescue boards, beach vehicles, radio communications and first aid kits.

The beach rescue initiative is a one-year trial costing �500,000 and it will use fully qualified lifesavers at Poole, Bournemouth and Weymouth in Dorset and at Caradon and Restormel in Cornwall.

Figures show that 200 lives are lost each year on UK beaches.

Pamela Anderson Lee in scene from Baywatch
The real-life Baywatch trial aims to save lives
RNLI national sea safety manager Peter Bradley said: "The RNLI is in a great position to help improve the situation and these trials will help us plan for the future and may find us rolling out a beach rescue programme to more of our coastline."

The new Baywatch-style beach teams were unveiled at Sandbanks Beach at Poole in Dorset and Fistral Beach at Newquay in Cornwall on Friday.

The guards are being supported by the RNLI in association with the Royal Life Saving Society and the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain.

The lifeguards' effectiveness will be assessed after one year of trials.


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