The RNLI has reiterated water safety advice as it brings its summer lifeguard provision to an end at beaches in Kent and Sussex.<\/p>\n
The charity’s lifeguards in the region will begin their pauses over winter starting from Sunday.<\/p>\n
In total, the organisation patrols 239 beaches in the UK and the Channel Islands on both a voluntary and local authority-funded basis.<\/p>\n
Ed Stevens, South East lifeguard lead, said the 2026 summer had been “one of the busiest and most demanding seasons” in the service’s history due to unprecedented hot and dry weather<\/a>.<\/p>\n The season saw “record numbers” visiting beaches in the region but lifeguards had adapted to “the challenges of an exceptionally busy season”, he said.<\/p>\n The summer also saw a number of high-profile water-related deaths<\/a> in the UK, including four members of one family who died after getting into difficulty<\/a> in the sea off the coast of Shoreham, West Sussex.<\/p>\n When will lifeguard services end?<\/p>\n West Sussex: RNLI lifeguards will finish their service on 6 September and return in spring.<\/p>\n East Sussex: Lifeguards finish their service on Bexhill beach on 6 September. Daily patrols will continue at St Leonards, Hastings Pier, Hastings Pelham, Camber West and Camber Central beaches until 12 September and move to weekend-only cover until 27 September.<\/p>\n Brighton & Hove: Service ends for the year on 6 September.<\/p>\n Kent: Provision continues at Broadstairs Viking Bay and Margate’s main beaches daily until the 12 September and at weekends until 27 September. Cover elsewhere in Thanet and Swale ends on 6 September.<\/p>\n How to stay safe<\/p>\n Stevens encouraged anybody visiting the coast outside of the lifeguard season to follow water safety advice.<\/p>\n According to the RNLI’s “float to live” campaign, people who find themselves in trouble in the water should:<\/p>\n \u00b7 Tilt their head back with their ears submerged<\/p>\n \u00b7 Try to relax and control their breathing<\/p>\n \u00b7 Move hands and legs to help stay afloat<\/p>\n \u00b7 Call for help or swim to safety once they have regained control of breathing<\/p>\n Stevens said: “Be prepared for any activity you’re planning to do by carrying a means of calling for help and letting someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back.<\/p>\n “Always remember the RNLI’s float to live guidance and if you get into trouble or see someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.”<\/p>\n Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook<\/a>, on X<\/a>, and on Instagram<\/a> and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds<\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk<\/a> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links