In the summer of 1979 Ronnie Gerrard was working as a lifeguard at a pool In Llangefni, Anglesey when the pool was busy with swimmers. Ronnie had passed his bronze medallion the day before when he was asked to take charge of the main pool. Read more
Eleven-year-old Rookie Lifeguard Bertie White was on holiday with his family in Lanzarote in August 2023, when they skills he had learnt were called upon. Read more
Paul Holmes rescued angler Dave Pike after he got into difficulties in the river Ijssel, Netherlands. Read more
On a windy Sunday lunchtime in November 2022, Cesar Mateus, who is a qualified RLSS UK Lifeguard (NPLQ and NVBLQ), was at Bournemouth beach training a group of cadets. Read more
Here, we’d like to highlight the extraordinary efforts of some of our Everyday Heroes.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in rescues and to those who told us all about them.
Report a Rescue
Twelve-year-old Molly attends St Osmund’s School in Dorchester in Dorset. Molly was on a recent school trip to Bude in May 2023 when she was taking part in some water activities. Read more
In June 2023 four-year-old Alexander Dunn was on holiday with his family in Spain and was enjoying splashing around in the pool with his Dad, Ben. The father and son decided to have a go on the water slide when tragedy struck. Read more
Richard Green and Dale King, RLSS UK qualified lifeguards, were on duty at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, when 78 year old Lewis Ford was playing walking football when he collapsed. Read more
In June 2023, Danny Blacklock and Jane Blacklock, who both hold their National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ), were off duty when they were called upon to help a man and young child in difficulty in the water at Mersea Beach in Colchester. Read more
On Thursday 26 January Port of Dover Police were called to attend the sea front promenade to assist Kent Police with a male who was been spoken to by the police. Read more
Fifteen-year-old Noah Winders was at a basketball training session with a number of other young people when one young person stumbled and collapsed during a training drill. Read more
On the afternoon of Friday 16 December Emily Deas (15) and her friend Lauren Campbell (16) were near the Monklands Canal in Coatbridge Lanarkshire when they heard cries for help. Read more
Newfs in Action is a Newfoundland dog club formed to enable the breed to take part in activities that they were originally bred for. With their thick double layer coats to protect them from the elements and their semi-webbed feet to enable them to swim, the dogs make fantastic water rescue dogs. Read more
In 2022 Victoria Crane was out celebrating her 27th birthday at Victoria Park in Glasgow with her two children and a friend when her birthday celebrations were halted. An elderly man spotted a two-year-old girl lying face down in the pond. Read more
On 5 January 2023 New Mills Leisure Centre in Stockport started their new year with lifesaving actions. Read more
On Tuesday 19 October Billy was playing walking football at Spennymoor Leisure Centre when he suddenly collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest. Read more
In May 2022, twelve-year-old Shreya Veerappan was in the swimming pool at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen when she spotted her classmate in trouble. Read more
Proud mum and Swimming Teacher, Ann Claydon, has told RLSS UK how her children, Will and Ellen, have both used their lifesaving skills to save lives, years apart. Read more
Two young lifeguards have saved a child’s life after a boy started drowning at Bourne Outdoor Pool in Lincolnshire. Read more
Beach Patrol Officer, Daniel Barber, was on duty when he spotted two teenage boys, 13 and 15, approximately 35 meters from the shore on a boogie board, just north of Central Pier. Read more
RLSS UK Lifeguard, Gabriel (Gabe) Lawless was on duty at Strode Pool in Somerset on 18th March when swimmer Rod Kerr, 72, was celebrating his birthday with a swim in the main pool. Read more
Three staff members from Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre lifesaving skills were called into play when a 48-year-old male collapsed whilst playing squash. Read more
Eloise (Ellie) Dickerson Weedy, Isadore (Issy) Dickerson Weedy and Jacob Screeton were on holiday in Turkey in June 2022 when their lifesaving skills were called upon. Read more
On the 26th June 2022, lifeguard Alex Brown had to put all of his lifeguard training into action when a four-month-old baby started to choke in the small pool at the Louisa centre, Stanley in Durham. Read more
Will Parker, qualified lifeguard, and Amy Owens, health and fitness coach, were on their commutes in Worcester when their lifesaving training was called upon. Read more