THE RNLI is reminding visitors to the coast to consider their safety and ‘Respect the Water’ as the charity’s summer lifeguard service comes to an end on the majority of the region’s beaches.

Many beaches will be ending their patrols on Sunday, October 1, with a few select beaches retaining a lifeguard service until Sunday, October 29, due to their popularity.

Patrols will continue at Polzeath, Summerleaze, Widemouth, Fistral, Watergate Bay, Praa Sands, Gwithian, Porthmeor and Sennen Cove to cover the October school half term.

Area lifesaving manager, Tom Mansell, said: “We would always advise people to visit a lifeguarded beach where possible. Quite a few of the beaches in Cornwall will be patrolled by lifeguards until the last weekend in October. If there are no red and yellow flags flying on the beach, this means there is no lifeguard service operating.”

The RNLI advises that if you’re walking at the coast to check the tide times before setting out to carry a means of communication to call for help if needed.

Tom added: “It is important to consider the ways that you can keep yourselves safe if you visit when lifeguards are not on duty, such as taking note of the safety signage at the entrance to the beach, telling someone on the shore where you are going and when you are due back, being aware of the conditions and your own capabilities in the water and never swimming alone.”

Rip currents are a major source of accidental drowning around the coast. Strong currents can quickly take you from the shallows and leave you out of your depth, even if you are an experienced swimmer.

As part of the, Respect the Water campaign, the RNLI advises that you do not enter the water if you see someone in trouble, but call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard. If you have something that floats, throw it to them.

To find out more about how to stay safe in and around the water visit RNLI.org/RespectTheWater