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A day in the life of a lifeguard

Becki Bowden / BBC A RNLI paddleboard and yellow and red flag on the sand at Bridlington South BeachBecki Bowden / BBC
The RNLI provides a lifeguard service along the East Yorkshire coast

With the summer holidays in full swing, the warm weather is drawing people to East Yorkshire beaches.

Keeping visitors safe at the seaside are RNLI lifeguards who patrol the sands at Bridlington, Hornsea and Withernsea.

In 2022, across the UK the service helped more than 24,000 people in need and saved 117 lives, according to the RNLI.

William Leggatt is one of the team at Bridlington.

The 20-year-old is in his first season working on the town's South Beach.

He said the job required a high level of fitness and training in caring for casualties.

“We are trained for a variety of different situations," said Mr Leggatt.

"From water safety and CPR to minor first aid such as cuts and bruises."

“Just last week, I had an incident. This woman tore her hamstring, so we had to bring out the crash bag.

"It’s basically a bag we can bring out for any situation, we know we have all the equipment inside.”

They also treat weaver fish stings which are common in the warmer weather.

Becki Bowden / BBC William Leggatt wearing his red RNLI uniform with a rescue float around his shoulder standing on Bridlington promenadeBecki Bowden / BBC
William Leggatt is in his first year working as a lifeguard at Bridlington

Rianna Manson, 26, is a lifeguard supervisor for the RNLI in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

On a summer's day more than 2,000 people can crowd the beaches in Bridlington.

Ms Manson said the busier days could be "challenging for the lifeguards".

"Some beaches are a three man guard," she said.

"So that’s three lifeguards possibly keeping an eye on up to 2,000 people.

"So that’s when, if incidents happen, they’ve got to prioritise that and obviously still maintain beach safety for users as well.”

Becki Bowden / BBC Lifeguard supervisor Rianna Manson wearing a blue RNLI sweatshirt standing in front of the RNLI lifeboat station in BridlingtonBecki Bowden / BBC
Rianna Manson, 26, is the RNLI lifeguard supervisor for the East Riding

The service runs from May to September.

There is always one lifeguard who patrols the beach, in between the red and yellow flags, which is the safest part of the beach to swim.

Mr Leggatt said: “Sometimes people swim outside of the flags but all we can do is advise.”

He added: “I really love the job. Just being by the sea every day but also being able to help people.

"People don’t come to the beach and expect to be rescued. We’re just there if anything goes wrong to help people out.”

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