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  • Rapid first aid response by volunteer for cardiac arrest

    Rapid first aid response by volunteer for cardiac arrest

    Matthew (Taff) Crofts, a trained volunteer with Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS), acted fast to help when a man collapsed Read more

  • Teamwork and training at WV Active Bilston – Bert Williams helped save a life

    Teamwork and training at WV Active Bilston – Bert Williams helped save a life

    Lifeguards in Staffordshire worked together to save a swimmer. Read more

  • Four teams of lifeguards awarded Certificates of Meritorius Action by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)

    Four teams of lifeguards awarded Certificates of Meritorius Action by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)

    Read more about teams at four leisure centres who completed successful rescues. #EveryDayHeroes Read more

  • Two heroic stories in one Mid-Devon leisure centre!

    Two heroic stories in one Mid-Devon leisure centre!

    Two heroic stories from members of staff at Exe Valley Leisure Centre. Read more

  • Rapid first aid response by volunteer for cardiac arrest
  • Teamwork and training at WV Active Bilston – Bert Williams helped save a life
  • Four teams of lifeguards awarded Certificates of Meritorius Action by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)
  • Two heroic stories in one Mid-Devon leisure centre!
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  2. #EverydayHeroes

#EverydayHeroes

Here, we’d like to highlight the extraordinary efforts of some of our Everyday Heroes.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in rescues and to those who told us all about them. 

Report a Rescue

Rapid first aid response by volunteer for cardiac arrest

Rapid first aid response by volunteer for cardiac arrest

Matthew (Taff) Crofts, a trained volunteer with Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS), acted fast to help when a man collapsed Read more

Published: 9th February, 2026

Updated: 27th February, 2026

Author: Catilin Kirkman

Teamwork and training at WV Active Bilston – Bert Williams helped save a life

Teamwork and training at WV Active Bilston – Bert Williams helped save a life

Lifeguards in Staffordshire worked together to save a swimmer. Read more

Published: 9th February, 2026

Updated: 27th February, 2026

Author: Catilin Kirkman

Four teams of lifeguards awarded Certificates of Meritorius Action by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)

Four teams of lifeguards awarded Certificates of Meritorius Action by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)

Read more about teams at four leisure centres who completed successful rescues. #EveryDayHeroes Read more

Published: 16th June, 2025

Author: Kelly Key

Lifeguards work together to save young, synchronised swimmer

Lifeguards work together to save young, synchronised swimmer

HMS Temeraire lifeguard, Sharon Dean and the Portsmouth and Victoria Synchronised Swimming Club lifeguard, Joshua Stanning saved a young girl whilst she practiced hypoxic training Read more

Published: 4th April, 2025

Updated: 9th February, 2026

Author: Charlotte Avery

Staff at Bletchley Leisure Centre commended for first aid efforts

Staff at Bletchley Leisure Centre commended for first aid efforts

Lifeguards James Cook and Kaijun Caple provided exemplary first aid to a man after he fell outside of the local leisure centre Read more

Published: 1st April, 2025

Author: Charlotte Avery

Lifesaver’s skills heroically used to save young life

Lifesaver’s skills heroically used to save young life

Man saves a teenage girl's life in Oxfordshire on way home from lifesaving training session. Read more

Published: 27th January, 2025

Updated: 16th February, 2026

Author: Charlotte Avery

Two heroic stories in one Mid-Devon leisure centre!

Two heroic stories in one Mid-Devon leisure centre!

Two heroic stories from members of staff at Exe Valley Leisure Centre. Read more

Published: 8th January, 2025

Author: Charlotte Avery

Young girl’s lifesaving skills see her save man’s life abroad

Young girl’s lifesaving skills see her save man’s life abroad

After a man in a lake signalled for help, instinct took over for 15-year-old hero as she hurried to save his life. Read more

Published: 20th September, 2024

Author: Simrit Mann

Remarkable Rescue in Rutland

Remarkable Rescue in Rutland

Man who survived heart attack on water park, meets lifeguards who saved him. Read more

Published: 5th August, 2024

Updated: 16th June, 2025

Author: Samantha Young

Teenager saves two lives

Teenager saves two lives

Owen Mansel showed great initiative one evening in March and helped save not one but two lives. Read more

Published: 10th July, 2024

Author: Simrit Mann

Quick thinking sees three brave lifeguards save teenager's life

Quick thinking sees three brave lifeguards save teenager's life

After a 16-year-old girl collapsed in the bowls hall at Bletchley Leisure Centre, it wasn’t long before lifeguards, Oliwia Sliwka, Oliver Cook and James Cook rushed to the scene. Read more

Published: 10th July, 2024

Author: Simrit Mann

Team comes together to save father of the bride

Team comes together to save father of the bride

During a stag weekend, while taking part in activities the father of the bride suddenly collapsed from a heart attack and the team at Harvey Hadden Sports Village was alerted and sprang into action. Read more

Published: 10th July, 2024

Updated: 11th July, 2024

Author: Simrit Mann

Rookie Lifeguard saves brother

Rookie Lifeguard saves brother

Twelve-year-old Rookie Lifeguard Evie Hayward was on holiday with her family in Barmouth in August 2023, when the skills she had learnt helped save a life. Read more

Published: 1st January, 2024

Updated: 10th July, 2024

Author: Simrit Mann

Reunited 44 years after rescue

Reunited 44 years after rescue

In the summer of 1979 Ronnie Gerrard was working as a lifeguard at a pool In Llangefni, Anglesey when the pool was busy with swimmers. Ronnie had passed his bronze medallion the day before when he was asked to take charge of the main pool. Read more

Published: 6th November, 2023

Updated: 15th November, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Humble Rookie Lifeguard recalls skills on holiday

Humble Rookie Lifeguard recalls skills on holiday

Eleven-year-old Rookie Lifeguard Bertie White was on holiday with his family in Lanzarote in August 2023, when they skills he had learnt were called upon. Read more

Published: 18th October, 2023

Updated: 20th October, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Quick acting angler saves fellow fisherman

Quick acting angler saves fellow fisherman

Paul Holmes rescued angler Dave Pike after he got into difficulties in the river Ijssel, Netherlands. Read more

Published: 11th October, 2023

Updated: 18th October, 2023

Author: Tara Sutton

Lifeguard rescues kite surfer

Lifeguard rescues kite surfer

On a windy Sunday lunchtime in November 2022, Cesar Mateus, who is a qualified RLSS UK Lifeguard (NPLQ and NVBLQ), was at Bournemouth beach training a group of cadets. Read more

Published: 31st July, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Molly becomes a lifesaver at twelve

Molly becomes a lifesaver at twelve

Twelve-year-old Molly attends St Osmund’s School in Dorchester in Dorset. Molly was on a recent school trip to Bude in May 2023 when she was taking part in some water activities. Read more

Published: 31st July, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Four-year-old saves Dad’s life on holiday

Four-year-old saves Dad’s life on holiday

In June 2023 four-year-old Alexander Dunn was on holiday with his family in Spain and was enjoying splashing around in the pool with his Dad, Ben. The father and son decided to have a go on the water slide when tragedy struck. Read more

Published: 31st July, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Lifeguards save footballer’s life

Lifeguards save footballer’s life

Richard Green and Dale King, RLSS UK qualified lifeguards, were on duty at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, when 78 year old Lewis Ford was playing walking football when he collapsed. Read more

Published: 10th July, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Mersea Beach Lifeguards Sea Rescue

Mersea Beach Lifeguards Sea Rescue

In June 2023, Danny Blacklock and Jane Blacklock, who both hold their National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ), were off duty when they were called upon to help a man and young child in difficulty in the water at Mersea Beach in Colchester. Read more

Published: 28th June, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Police Officer rescues man from water

Police Officer rescues man from water

On Thursday 26 January Port of Dover Police were called to attend the sea front promenade to assist Kent Police with a male who was been spoken to by the police. Read more

Published: 26th April, 2023

Updated: 17th May, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Teenager uses training to save fellow basketballer

Teenager uses training to save fellow basketballer

Fifteen-year-old Noah Winders was at a basketball training session with a number of other young people when one young person stumbled and collapsed during a training drill. Read more

Published: 27th March, 2023

Updated: 17th May, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

Teenagers save dog and owner from frozen canal

Teenagers save dog and owner from frozen canal

On the afternoon of Friday 16 December Emily Deas (15) and her friend Lauren Campbell (16) were near the Monklands Canal in Coatbridge Lanarkshire when they heard cries for help. Read more

Published: 6th March, 2023

Author: Charlotte Knowles

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Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is a registered charity in England, Wales (1046060), and Scotland (SC037912) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (3033781). Its registered office is RLSS UK, Red Hill House, 227 London Road, Worcester, WR5 2JG.

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