RNLI Lifeguards_South East Cornwall

28/08/2026

BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 🛟 ⚠️

This Bank Holiday Weekend, we wish to remind all to choose a Lifeguarded beach. Whether that is to swim, bodyboard, surf, walk, etc.

Saturday 29th is forecasted for large, overhead, messy conditions across our beaches in South East Cornwall. Strong onshore/cross-shore winds will increase turbulence of the waters within Whitsand Bay, creating much stronger currents pulling in multiple directions, particularly flowing through the deep channels out to sea, forming Rip Currents.

Large waves will also form large, shore break surges at Seaton Beach and will push the incoming tide in much quicker than typical for this tidal range across all our beaches.

If you are walking along our long stretch of beaches, be aware of the incoming tide in the afternoon, and leave plenty of time to return to exit paths to avoid being cut off. Please speak to our Lifeguards on the beach when you arrive for more information and advice, and they will be happy to help.

Finally, please pay attention to flags that are flying.

🟥🟨 If RED and YELLOW flags are up, please swim or bodyboard in this area, avoiding anywhere else on the beach.

🔴‼️ If a solid RED flag is flying, DO NOT enter the water for any reason.

Lifeguards will be Patrolling 1000-1800 Sat, Sun, Mon at -
Seaton
Tregantle
Sharrow
Freathy
Tregonhawke

📞⚠️ If you or anyone else gets in trouble in the water or on the coast, call 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD

31/07/2026

Today we celebrate International Lifeguard Appreciation Day 🛟🎉

With our beaches being host to an RNLI Lifeguard Service throughout the entirety of these 25 Years of RNLI Lifeguards, and a rich history of Surf Lifesaving for many years before, we would like to thank both Past and Present Lifeguards alike.

Anyone who has ever witnessed, or been involved in an incident themselves, can attest to the immense professionalism and dedication to the preservation of life these wonderful people show. For all, Lifeguarding is not just a job, but a true commitment to ensuring the safety of others, even if it means putting themselves in danger.

Our RNLI Principles encompass just that - Selfless, Trustworthy, Dependable, Courageous. An RNLI Lifeguarding doesn’t just aim for this, but embodies these values.

Please join us in showing appreciation for our colleagues around the UK and Worldwide today.

We would love you guys to share your stories of when a Lifeguard has made a lasting impact on you or anyone you know! 💛

Always visit a Lifeguarded Beach

29/07/2026

A week after our Lifeguards competed in the Annual Lifeguard Challenge, the standings are in.

1.2km SWIM | 2.0km RUN | 2.4km PADDLE

1. S. Doyle – 54:29
2. F. Doyle – 54:30
3. W. Doyle – 54:48
4. R. Haines – 56:52
5. C. Gillett – 57:44
6. A. Knight – 59:59
7. T. Hatfield – 1:00:01
8. B. Farrow – 1:01:42
9. B. Floyd – 1:01:52
10. C. Little – 1:03:05
11. M. Vitkovic – 1:04:56
12. S. Holland – 1:05:24
13. J. De Groot – 1:07:23
14. K. Locke – 1:10:35
15. M. Dewdney – 1:11:59

The local boys of the Doyle family took all three podium spots, with our Wildcard for this year, Will Doyle, coming in 3rd.

Thankyou to Plymouth RNLI and RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station for attending to support, and thankyou to everyone who came to spectate!

If you missed it, head over to our Instagram page to watch the full reel of the event. This is attached to our story also!

24/07/2026

LIFEGUARD CHALLENGE 2026 🏆

With everything left on the line by all competitors, our Lifeguard Challenge 2026 comes to an end.

Incredible performances all round highlighted impressive improvements from many lifeguards going on from last year, with our podium to be announced shortly alongside our post-challenge video.

We thank Whitsand Bay SLSC for the support with Safety Cover, Mr B Productions for the amazing images, and RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station and Plymouth RNLI for turning up to support!

Please do look out for our video roundup out soon, to witness all the amazing racing from our Lifeguards.

RNLI

📸: Mr B Productions Mr B Wildlife

22/07/2026

IT’S RACE DAY!! 🛟🏃‍♀️🏊

It’s just a couple hours away from the start of our Annual LIFEGUARD CHALLENGE!

Please head down to Tregonhawke Beach from 1830 to witness our Lifeguards battle it out for glory, and see who will take GOLD!!

We will also be joined by whitsandbayslsc, Plymouth RNLI, and RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station. So if you love an RNLI Lifeboat just as much as us, you don’t want to miss it!

Please do share around to get as much support down as possible for our amazing team!

See you soon!

17/07/2026

Our Lifeguard Challenge 2026 is just a few days away now!!

Get down to Tregonhawke Beach from 1830 on Wednesday to watch the battle unfold!

04/07/2026

LIFEGUARD CHALLENGE 2026 🏊‍♂️

🗓️ 1830 | 22nd July 2026

📍Tregonhawke Beach

1.2km SWIM
2km RUN
2.4km BOARD PADDLE

We welcome everyone to come down to Tregonhawke Beach on the 22nd to support our Lifeguards in the Annual South East Cornwall Lifeguard Challenge!

The Lifeguard Challenge is designed to test our Lifeguards in the skills and fitness crucial to our roles, in the most extreme manner. With a high pace sea swim immediately sequenced by over 200ft of elevation gain before the undulating cliff road run has even begun, and a 2.4km flat out sprint paddle thereafter, this race is a true challenge of their limits.

We will also be joined by assisting with the event safety cover 🙏

Please do come down to support your local Lifeguards and enjoy a lovely evening of entertainment! We will also be collecting donations for the RNLI on the evening just outside our Lifeguard unit. We would be highly appreciative if you could give any amount to help us in our constant efforts to Save Lives at Sea.

We will be posting more details of each leg on our stories in the coming days, so follow us to stay informed!

24/06/2026

CONGRATULATIONS 🎉

Over the last month, LG Ben Floyd and LG Rob Haines have undergone an extensive IRB Helm training course.

We are pleased to say that both LGs have passed all required competency assessments in a variety of skills, manoeuvres, rescue techniques etc, and are now qualified IRB Helms!

With 4 seasons under their belts each, Ben and Rob will pair their in depth knowledge of our coastline with their IRB Helm qualification to be a great asset in any manor of incident that may occur.

Please congratulate them on this amazing achievement!

23/06/2026

Please read one of our recent posts to remind yourselves of key safety advice with this Week’s Heatwave.

🚨MAY HALF TERM SAFETY MESSAGE 🚨
Saturday 23rd - Sunday 31st

With beautiful Sunny weather fast approaching South East Cornwall, please read these safety messages from our team to keep you out of danger this May Half Term!

☀️ SUNNY WEATHER

- HIGH UV INDEX (Max 8, 25th/26th). Stay protected with the following methods. Slip on some Breathable, UV Protective Clothing. Slap on a Sun Hat and Sun Glasses. Slop on Water Resistant, SPF 50+ Sun Cream regularly and reapply after swimming.

- HIGH TEMPERATURES (26C +). Stay Hydrated by drinking plenty of water before, during, and after your beach visits. Whilst Heat Illnesses can affect everyone, Young Children and Elderly People are highest risk.

🌊 SEA CONDITIONS

- RIP CURRENTS. Even with calm sea states forecast, our beaches have been and continue to be host to strong Rip Currents across all stretches. Swim Between the Red and Yellow Flags at all times.

- DEEP WATER. Deep channels not only facilitate Rip Current dangers, but beware of steep shelving water. Weak swimmers should always stay well within their depth.

🌕 🌊 TIDAL RANGE

- TIDAL CUT OFF. Our beaches have a large tidal range, and HIGH TIDES IN THE AFTERNOON/EVENING all week. Be aware of safe exit paths and moving yourself and belongings in plenty of time to avoid being cutoff. Check the Tide Times before visiting and on our Information Boards and follow Patrolling Lifeguards’ advice on moving.

- CHANGES TO SEA STATE. As the tide moves, different sand channels become submerged, changing the safety of these areas. Our Safe Swimming and Bodyboarding area (Red and Yellow Flags) WILL move throughout the day, so please move with it.

⚠️ Always Swim between the and at a Lifeguarded Beach.

⚠️ Always Follow the Advice of the .

⚠️ Always keep Young Children close to you - In or Out of the Water.

📞 If you or anyone else gets into trouble in the Water or on the Coast, approach a Lifeguard or call 999 and ask for the

Currently Patrolling Daily (1000-1800):
Tregonhawke
Sharrow
Tregantle
Seaton

RNLI Maritime and Coastguard Agency

17/06/2026

2 Lives Saved - Sharrow Beach 🛟

The lives of a 5 Year old Boy and his Father saved by RNLI Lifeguards

On Sunday 14th June, at approximately 1230, Lifeguard Supervisor Tristan Gillett positioned atop the Eastern Cliff of Sharrow Beach observed a man running down the beach towards a deep gully at the base of Sharrow Point - circled below

With a potential out of sight emergency unfolding, Patrolling Lifeguard Adam Knight - positioned along the beach between the Red and Yellow flags - was alerted to respond. Upon reaching the scene, a 5 year old boy and his father were identified as in immediate need of assistance in the deep gully. With the child a non-swimmer and the father having sustained a significant knee injury during his attempted rescue, both casualties were struggling to keep themselves above water.

Lifeguard Adam Knight swiftly gained control of the situation, reaching and pulling the two casualties out of the water, to the safety of the land. Upon initial post-rescue checks, the father’s knee injury was identified and treated. With the clear inability to make his own way up the cliff path, the Tregonhawke Inshore Rescue Boat responded to transport the casualty to Tregantle Beach, where extraction to the road above was possible.

This Deep Gully at Sharrow Beach presents as one of our most significant and consistent hazards across our beaches. At all tide and sea states, a strong current pulls out to sea, and the deep water level and steep shelving edges are particularly dangerous to unsupervised children. Since 2017, there have been 12 lives saved in this area.

We thank all Lifeguards involved for their quick action and professionalism.

This incident exemplifies the importance of swimming or paddling between the Red and Yellow Flags at all times - even when other areas of water may look more inviting.

If you are in trouble and struggling to stay above the water, tilt your head back, lift your body up, , and use your arms to steady yourself.



RNLI