Lifeguards return to Devon, Cornwall and Jersey

Lifeguards are returning to 25 beaches across the south-west of England and Jersey on Saturday.

The RNLI said it expected a large number of people at the coast for the early May Bank Holiday.

It advised those planning to get in the sea to choose a lifeguarded beach and to pay attention to any lifeguard flags.

During the Easter holidays lifeguards were stationed at beaches across the region and responded to multiple incidents, the RNLI said.

These included an incident on Easter Sunday when two bodyboarders got into difficulty and were rescued by lifeguards at Woolacombe beach in north Devon.

In Perranporth, in Cornwall, two women were knocked off their feet by a tidal surge, which dragged them out to sea. They were rescued by lifeguards.

From Saturday, lifeguards will patrol beaches in Cornwall, Devon and Le Braye in Jersey.

Guy Botterill, the RNLI's lifeguard lead in the South West, said: "The bank holiday weekend is usually a busy period and we want to make sure people have a good time in the water but remain safe whilst doing so.

"The RNLI encourages those going to the coast to head to a lifeguarded beach.

"If swimming or bodyboarding stay between the red and yellow flags and if you need any local information or are unsure about anything, please ask an RNLI lifeguard."

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