16 Year Old Scarborough RNLI Lifeguard Marks Busy First Summer as Season Ends

Tuesday, 3 September 2024 06:00

By Matthew Pells

She may be only 16 but new lifeguard Sarah Hatchard has had a busy first season across Scarborough beaches putting her training to good use assisting paddleboarders, swimmers and beach goers.

Sarah joining the RNLI coincides with the charity’s 200th anniversary and she has many stories to tell as the 2024 lifeguarding season comes to an end this week.

From the very beginning, she was called upon to attend first aid incidents and needed to put her casualty care training to good use helping poorly and injured members of the public.

Then on Monday 5th August at 3.30pm, Sarah assisted a grandfather and two children on a paddleboard at Sandsend Beach. They were getting swept out to sea by offshore winds, Sarah quickly took a rescue board and paddled out to bring them back to shore.

Another prominent rescue for Sarah happened the following day at 2pm on Tuesday 6th August at Saltburn Beach. Two young boys had found themselves stranded on a sandbank 50 metres offshore as a fast tide came in around them.

The boys tried to swim back to shore but didn’t realise how deep the water was and got into difficulty. A member of public fully clothed had gone in the water after them to help, she reached the two boys but was in difficulty herself.

Sarah used her rescue board to paddle out to them. All three casualties got on the board as Sarah swam and dragged it back to safety on the shore.

Sarah said:

‘Being a lifeguard is great as an average day at the office, meaning the beach is never the same. I have learnt valuable skills and put them in action. I have really enjoyed my first season as a lifeguard, all the hard work and training pays of when I am able to help people.’

‘As the lifeguarding season comes to an end this week, we urge people to still follow RNLI water safety advice. Check weather conditions when heading in the water, don’t use inflatables, paddleboards or kayaks in offshore winds. If caught in a rip current swim parallel to the shore.’

‘If you find yourself in difficulty, remember to Float to Live.’

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live:

Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
Try to relax
Control your breathing – This can take up to a minute
Use your hands to help you stay afloat – It is okay if your legs sink everyone floats differently
Once calm, then try call for help or swim to safety if you can.

As the lifeguarding season ends Sarah is now going into the first year of Sixth Form, to study Biology, Maths and Chemistry.

In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.

For beach safety information and tips, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety