RNLI lifeguards saved seven lives on Jersey’s beaches over the past five years while carrying out almost 290 water rescues and providing assistance to more than 1,800 people, according to new figures.
The statistics, covering the 2021 to 2025 seasons, show lifeguards responded to 1,454 incidents, aided 1,832 people and carried out 289 rescues across the Island’s six lifeguarded beaches.
Seven people were recorded as having had their lives saved during that period.
Plemont accounted for three of those life-saving incidents, with Watersplash recording the remaining four.
Three lives were saved in 2025 alone, all at Plemont, while two were saved at Watersplash in 2024 and one in both 2021 and 2022. No lives were recorded as being saved in 2023.
The figures also highlight which beaches required the greatest number of rescues.
St Brelade’s Bay recorded the highest total, with 72 rescues over the five-year period. El Tico was close behind with 83 rescues, although Greve de Lecq and Watersplash each recorded 51 rescues, while Le Braye recorded 34 and Plemont 12.
Overall, El Tico and St Brelade’s Bay consistently featured among the busiest beaches for rescue incidents from year to year.
Beyond rescues, RNLI lifeguards dealt with hundreds of medical incidents. Across the five seasons, they administered minor first aid on 895 occasions, provided casualty care 107 times and carried out 333 assistance incidents, demonstrating that much of the service’s workload extends beyond swimmers in immediate danger.
The figures were published after Deputy Tom Coles asked whether records were kept of water rescues, resuscitation incidents and first-aid treatments, and requested a breakdown by beach over the last five years.
In response, Economic Development Minister Gerald Voisin acknowledged “the important role that RNLI lifeguards play in keeping Jersey’s wonderful beaches safe for both Islanders and visitors”.
He also welcomed efforts in recent years to increase the number of lifeguards who are Jersey residents.
