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If you see people dressed in red and yellow performing sea rescues over the next few days, don't worry...the lifeguards are just finishing their training ahead of the season, which starts on Good Friday.
The RNLI have run a lifeguard service in Jersey since 2011, but have only started their season from the Easter holidays for the last three years.
RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, Jake Elms, told Express the lifeguard presence this early in the year is: “Definitely needed, we do have a few people swimming, especially down here at St. Ouen’s with the surf. We get a lot of surfers down here, in the past there has been a few incidents and a number of rescues so the guys are definitely required.”
The lifeguards helped around 270 people last year who got into difficulty on the island’s beaches or in the water, a number they hope will be lower this season if swimmers and surfers stick to the supervised areas.
“Down St. Ouens we get lots of surfers, as you can see there’s a bit of surf behind me, we’ve got body borders as well. Obviously [we] really strongly advise to wear wetsuits because it is cold this time of year, and if you are coming down the beach please swim between the red and yellow flags and surf between the black and whites, and always come and have a chat with the lifeguards if you’re not sure about anything” advises RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Nathan Elms.
The lifeguards will only be stationed at St. Ouen’s Bay for the Easter holiday break and weekends, but will then extend their patrol to include St. Brelade’s Bay, Plémont and Gréve de Lecq beaches from the 26th May, right through to the end of the summer.
The team has 24 lifeguards this season, along with a few more offering casual support. Nathan believes islanders will be in safe hands as a number of them have experience of Jersey’s waters.
Pictured: Islanders are advised to stay within the supervised areas which are indicated by red and yellow flags for swimmers and black and white flags for surfers.
“The majority of our lifeguards are local, we do occasionally get a few lifeguards overseas but this year our returning rate is really high of locals, it’s really good down here especially with their local knowledge of the peaks we have down here” Nathan told Express.
The lifesaving crew will be able to educate and advise sea safety a lot easier this year with the opening of their new lifesaving hub at Beaumont Industrial Park; the first time RNLI Lifeguards have had a central facility to keep their equipment, train and debrief after a rescue.
The Lifeguards will provide daily sea updates and advice on area’s that are safe to use throughout the season.
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