It was comforting to hear that Camber Sands would be enjoying lifeguard cover during the bank holiday weekend, but your report (27 August) pointed to the patchy picture regarding lifeguard cover in general along Britain’s long coastline. In our experience the relevant authorities need do no more than look across the English Channel.
Like the UK, France has a long coastline with an abundance of beaches, but we experienced a very different approach to safety on our recent holiday on the coast near Boulogne and Le Touquet. At each resort there were teams of attentive lifeguards at all times in the daylight hours, actively monitoring the many thousands of holidaymakers. They had defined zones, guards at the water’s edge, boats patrolling just offshore and on-beach vehicles, with a rescue station at the top of the beach in every case.
Each time the tide came in, the lifeguards would order everyone out of the water. One guard explained that the tide comes in so fast, like a low tidal wave, that it is very dangerous, especially for children or weak swimmers. Every beach had full signage on display, in French and English, showing just what happens in such circumstances.
In short, we experienced well-organised and efficient lifeguard services on every beach, even those next to small villages and towns.
Patrick and Jenny Coffey
Heathfield, East Sussex
• We have just enjoyed a week at De Haan on the Belgian coast. Over a kilometre stretch of shore there were lifeguards positioned every 200 metres on raised chairs. In addition there were four lifeguards on foot patrol. There were two motorised dinghies patrolling the sea about 50 metres offshore, each with two lifeguards aboard.
According to a lifeguard on duty on Friday there are 16 lifeguards present throughout the day during July and August. The costs are met by the government budget. There have been no drownings in more than 30 years.
I can’t find figures for the numbers of holidaymakers on the beach at peak time, but based on my observation I estimate they total many thousands (but fewer than those reported at Camber Sands). The primary imperative of government is to protect its citizens, and it is clear Belgium takes this responsibility seriously.
Charles Groutage
Earl Shilton, Leicestershire
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