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Andrew Todd and his children found themselves caught in a rip current while swimming at Whiterocks beach near Portrush in County Antrim during the summer of 2022. Fortunately, Todd, an experienced sea kayaker, remained calm throughout the incident because of his awareness that lifeguards were on duty, ready to assist anyone in distress. The rescue was swift and efficient, with lifeguards from the RNLI reaching them within 30 seconds. Todd recalled the ordeal, saying, “It was all done and dusted in 30 seconds, it felt like a long time at the time but it was all very quick, very efficient.”
The RNLI lifeguard service, which has been patrolling Northern Ireland’s coast for 15 years, began its presence there ten years after being established in England. Their coverage extends across beaches on the north coast and County Down. Todd had instructed his teenagers, Issy and Zack, to stay safe by swimming between the red and yellow flags indicating the lifeguarded areas. However, despite these safety measures, the sudden rip current quickly pulled his son Zack out, catching them off guard. Todd mentioned that the lifeguards told him the rip current formed almost out of nowhere, highlighting how conditions at sea can shift rapidly.
Since its inception, the RNLI lifeguard service has handled approximately 2,300 incidents and carried out 500 rescues across the UK. Despite these numbers, much of their work focuses on prevention, which makes up an estimated 95% of a lifeguard’s duties. Freya Macfarlane, a lifeguard serving Northern Ireland, explained that every day begins with evaluating the beach and water conditions for any hazards and continues with ongoing monitoring throughout the day. For example, when offshore winds are strong enough to pose a risk of dragging inflatables out to sea, they signal this by raising an offshore wind sock above the lifeguard hut. She emphasized the importance of educating the public through social media about water safety and techniques like “float-to-live.”
Michael Thompson, the RNLI’s lifeguard lead for Northern Ireland, has observed a significant rise in beach visitors and water users in areas patrolled by RNLI lifeguards. He emphasized the importance of preparation before heading to the beach, encouraging people to choose lifeguarded locations and speak with the lifeguards upon arrival to understand the specific risks present. At places like Whiterocks, rip currents and dangerous waves can develop unpredictably throughout the day and with different tides. Thompson’s advice for those caught in a rip current is to stay calm, hold onto something buoyant like a surfboard or bodyboard, float out with the current, and wave one hand to attract help. He stressed that maintaining composure is critical to increasing the chances of a safe rescue
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