Jurassic Paddle Sports

10/09/2026

Today, on Emergency Services Day, we’re taking a moment to recognise and thank all those who work and volunteer across our emergency services.

At Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, we’re proud to play our part.

Our volunteer crew regularly works alongside HM Coastguard, RNLI lifeboat crews, Coastguard Rescue Teams, the ambulance service, police, fire and rescue service, air ambulance teams and many others.

Whether it’s a rescue at sea, a search along the coastline or a medical emergency on the beach, effective emergency response relies on people and organisations working together - often in difficult and unpredictable circumstances.

We’re incredibly grateful for the professionalism, dedication and teamwork of everyone we have the privilege of working alongside.

And, of course, a huge thank you to our own volunteer lifeboat crew and Sidmouth Beach Lifeguards for the time, skills and commitment they give to keeping people safe on our coastline.

To everyone who serves, works or volunteers in the emergency services – 🧡 thank you for all that you do 🧡.

09/09/2026

From CPR to sea rescues, here is what Sidmouth’s lifeguards faced during a demanding summer 👏

09/09/2026

The RNLI is a charity that exists to save lives at sea. But recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about our purpose and our lifesaving work in the Channel.

As a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in some cases, physical abuse. This is unacceptable.

The RNLI’s people represent the very best of society. For over two hundred years they have dedicated themselves to rescuing people they’ve never met before, without judgment, fear or favour.

We are tasked by HM Coastguard to help those in distress, and we'll do so whenever, wherever and whoever they are.

We launched 9,058 times in 2025. Only 109 of those launches were to those in distress in the Channel – 1.2% of our total rescue work. Anyone rescued from a small boat by the RNLI is then taken into the care of the relevant UK authorities.

To those who stand with the RNLI, thank you. For more than two hundred years, we've saved lives at sea around the UK and Ireland, and that commitment remains unchanged.

08/09/2026

07/09/2026

🌊 THANK YOU to our Beach Lifeguards!! 🏖️

As the Sidmouth Beach Lifeguards finished up their final patrols of the 2026 summer season yesterday, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to every member of the team for their dedication, professionalism and commitment to keeping our community and visitors safe.

It has been another busy summer, with our lifeguards responding to a wide range of incidents both on the beach and in the water. From treating more than 40 minor injuries in a single weekend - including weever fish stings, jellyfish stings, cuts and grazes - to managing medical emergencies, the team has been there when people needed them most.

This season has included a serious medical incident requiring lifesaving interventions, including CPR, multiple water rescues and assists, and significant board rescues in challenging easterly sea conditions. Lifeguards have also treated injuries ranging from broken bones and head injuries to a foot laceration following a jump from the sea wall.

Alongside these incidents, the team has managed busy beaches, powerful shorebreak and rapidly changing tides, helped reunite missing children with their families, and provided reassurance and safety advice to countless beachgoers.

Their commitment doesn’t always end when a patrol finishes, either. Members of the team have also assisted people while off duty, including helping a woman who had sustained a major bleed to her leg.

But lifeguarding is about so much more than responding to emergencies. Every conversation, every warning, every school visit and every piece of safety advice plays a part in preventing incidents before they happen.

To our lifeguards: thank you for your hard work, your compassion and the care you show to everyone who visits Sidmouth Beach. We are incredibly grateful to have you as part of the Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat team.

And to everyone who has supported the service, followed our safety advice or simply stopped to say thank you this summer - we appreciate you too. 🧡

06/09/2026

…….sidmouth lifeguards..out!
And that’s a wrap! Thank you for your service!
Even the dolphins turned up to give you a farewell display.
A personal thank you from me to you all!

Remember
🛟 - if you are in trouble on the coast or need help dial 999 and ask for the coastguard

🛟 - if you are struggling in the water FLOAT to live - float like a starfish

# - respect the water

05/09/2026

THANK YOU LIFEGUARDS ❤️
Tomorrow, Sunday the 6th of September is the last day for our Sidmouth Lifeguard service.
They have provided the most amazing service all summer and I want to personally thank them for the enthusiasm, professionalism, vigilance, care and compassion they have delivered consistently since May.

Thank you also to Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat who fund and provide the service and to the lifeboat crew for their team work and support.
Also a bigger more broad thank you to all the lifeguards around our coastline.

Please stop and say Hi 👋 to our Sidmouth lifeguards if you see them tomorrow and if you are on a different beach go and give the lifeguards there some love

Thank you 🙏

31/08/2026

Lifeguard service has one more week
They are on duty all this week with the last day on Sunday the 6th of September.

Sidmouth’s lifeguard service is a fully independent service run and funded solely by Sidmouth independent lifeboat.

If you are on the sea front between now and Sunday and have any questions or just want to say hi then please go and do so.

Thank you 🙏

Photo credit - Hattie Paley - Lifeguard

30/08/2026

Respect the lifeguard!

If while you are in Sidmouth you are going to actively and intentionally ignore multiple obvious warning signs and physically clamber around and over a locked gate to access an extremely dangerous section of coastline and beach despite the very obvious house sized rock fall on the beach and put yourself in danger then please have the decency to be respectful when a lifeguard offers you safety advice. The lifeguard is just simply doing their job with care and compassion.
Lots of people just witnessed a group of people being very rude and disrespectful to one of Sidmouth’s lifeguards who was just trying to help.

Just remember of you make a choice to put yourself in danger who is called to save you when you get into trouble?

The signs, locked gates and advice is all there because the risk is real!