Tendring’s seafront team were kept busy this summer, dealing with with more than 750 incidents and helping to save more than 40 lives.

The Beach Patrols and Seafront Rangers, who are employed by Tendring District Council, cover the district’s main seaside areas from April to August on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

This year they became the first local authority seafront team in the country to be trained as First Responders and that was put to good use as they attended 29 call-outs via the Ambulance Service.

In all, the team dealt with 758 incidents which included 94 rescue boat and jet ski call-outs, 14 swim rescues and 71 lost children reunited with their parents. In addition, there were 38 call-outs to recover inflatables, 248 instances of giving minor first aid and three birds rescued from the sea.

The police were called to attend 40 times, the Ambulance Service 26 times, the Marine Coastguard Agency on 27 occasions; the Marine Police Unit eight times and the RNLI and Fire Service six times each.

The RAF Rescue Helicopter and Air Ambulance were required on four occasions each and the Police helicopter twice while the team also had to call out a Bomb Disposal Unit once and dealt with two attempted suicides.

On top of these incidents the team gave out advice to more than 800 dog owners and handed out more than 15,000 wristbands to children to identify which beach their family was on should they get lost.

Council leader Peter Halliday said that the team provides a first class service.

“I never cease to be amazed and the number and variety of incidents they are faced with over the course of the summer and the professional way they deal with them,” he said.

“We are very proud of their efforts which often involve working long hours and dealing with whatever arises on our seafronts.

“They have an excellent working relationship with the emergency services and this all helps to keep residents and visitors safe while they are enjoying themselves in the sun.”