His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO joined lifesavers from across the Commonwealth at a special event held in Warwick for a Broom-based charity.

He joined more than 50 guests at The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) Commonwealth Lifesaving Seminar at Old Shire Hall, Warwick last Thursday (March 13).

Hosted by the High Sheriff of Warwickshire and RLSS Commonwealth Vice President, Keith Sach, the event aimed to raise awareness of the drowning issue across the Commonwealth prices visit.

The audience heard presentations from RLSS representatives on Drowning Prevention – the global problem and examples the charity’s work; Lifesaving Sport – how sport is linked to the charity’s humanitarian work and to highlight the RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships; Youth Engagement – the importance of engaging with the younger members of RLSS to not only get involved within their nations but in the bigger global picture and Working in Partnership with a presentation from Steve Wills from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Clive Holland, Deputy Commonwealth President of RLSS said: “Many people are unaware of the huge global drowning problem and today has given us an opportunity to inform, not only those from outside our organisation, but also those from within RLSS of the scale of the issue and the great work we and our Member Branches carry out around the Commonwealth.”

HRH Prince Michael of Kent also presented the 2012 Russell Medal to Samantha Hobbs from Somerset. The Russell Medal is awarded someone 18 years or younger anywhere in the Commonwealth who has carried an outstanding resuscitation or attempted resuscitation of a person. In October 2012, Samantha, who was then just 14-years-old found her mother unconscious and not breathing at their family home. After sending her father to call for an ambulance Samantha started performing CPR. After ten minutes Samantha began to tire but instead of stopping she instructed her father how to perform CPR until the paramedics arrived. It was thanks to Samantha’s prompt action that her mother made a full recovery.

For more information on RLSS Commonwealth visit www.rlsscommonwealth.org