Southport & Mersey Reporter... PCBT Photography, Online Newspapers.

ON Friday, 28 May 2010 on Ainsdale Beach, the RNLI lifeguards based on Merseyside are staged a rescue simulation exercise designed to demonstrate their water-based rescue capabilities. The charity took over the running of the lifeguard service on Crosby, Southport and Ainsdale beaches from Sefton Council earlier this year, and RNLI lifeguards have been patrolling the three beaches since Easter. With the main summer season approaching and more visitors expected to Sefton’s coast over the coming weeks, RNLI Deputy Divisional Lifeguard Manager, Rory Smith said the rescue demonstration is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of beach safety issues.

"RNLI lifeguards currently providing a weekend service at Ainsdale and Southport beaches are now operating seven days a week since Saturday, 29 May 2010, in order to provide a full time lifesaving service to visitors during the main summer season. The main role for RNLI lifeguards is prevention, offering advice to people on the beach and helping to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place, however, they are also there and ready to respond to anyone in trouble in the water. The rescue demonstration should reassure visitors that the RNLI and Sefton Council are fully committed to ensuring the seaside is a safe place to enjoy the summer..." said Rory Smith.

This is the first year that lifeguards from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have provided safety patrols on beaches in the north west of England.

The RNLI lifeguard service operates 365 days a year at Crosby and will run seven days a week at Ainsdale and Southport from the end of May until September. RNLI lifeguards will also patrol Formby beach during the peak summer season, from July 2010.

RNLI lifeguards based in Sefton are equipped with rescue tubes designed to aid flotation and rescue boards on which lifeguards can bring casualties back to shore. All RNLI lifeguards are trained as first responders to the ambulance service, which requires them to be trained to use defibrillators and prioritise responses to medical emergencies.

As we photographed the action our editor Patrick Trollope dropped his phone. It was picked up and returned to him by a Scottish Family staying at Pontins. "Thank you for finding and returning it to me. It is good to find people who are honest like this." said Patrick.

To see more photos, click here.