Lifeguards Wrap Up Successful Summer Season In Ryde And Sandown

The Isle of Wight’s Beach Lifeguard Services have finished another busy summer, with the season officially coming to an end on Sunday 31 August.

Teams in Ryde and Sandown have been working hard throughout the summer months – from giving water safety advice and preventing incidents, to carrying out rescues and first aid.

Lifeguards also helped reunite missing children with families and offered the public access to beach wheelchairs, which proved more popular than ever this year.

Education has been another key focus, with lifeguards delivering their ‘Sea Safe’ drowning prevention programme to local schools.

More than 500 children took part in the sessions, learning vital lessons about staying safe around the water.

Beach Manager Todd Miller praised his team and urged Islanders and visitors to continue putting safety first:

“I would like to thank all of our Lifeguards and Beach Safety for their great work this summer, as well as the excellent support we continue to receive from the emergency services.

"We are advising people to continue to take care and be aware of the dangers.

"Check the weather conditions and tide times and consider your capabilities.

"If in doubt, it is better to stay dry and watch the sea than take the risk.

"Ensure you carry a means of contact such as a mobile phone, and if you get into trouble or see anyone else in difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”