The head of the RNLI has called for the government to restrict access to beaches following two deaths on the Cornish coastline yesterday.

RNLI chief executive Mark Dowie said the charity could not stop people going to beaches, "but the government can."

He described the charity as being in "an impossible situation", and said it was being forced to "choose between keeping the public or our lifeguards safe."

In an open letter Mr Dowrie said: "Despite our warnings that there were no lifeguards on patrol this weekend, crowded beaches, hot weather and big waves meant our lifeboat crews had their busiest weekend so far this year. At least two people lost their lives.

"This puts the RNLI in an impossible situation. With thousands flocking to English beaches now lockdown restrictions have been eased, we must choose between keeping the public or our lifeguards safe.

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"Safety advice and warnings will only go so far when people are desperate to enjoy some freedom after weeks of lockdown.

"As a lifesaving charity, the RNLI cannot stop people going to beaches – but the government can – before more lives are lost around our coast this summer."

Mr Dowrie said that providing a lifeguard service, especially in a pandemic, was "not as simple as putting a lifeguard on a beach," adding that the charity only found out about the easing of lockdown restrictions at the same time as the general public.

This meant they had to find out the best way to carry out in-water rescues and give first aid – normally conducted at close quarters and often with people coughing up water - while maintaining safety to the lifeguards, as well as find PPE that would work on a beach and in the water and give training in procedures to reduce the risk of infection.

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"Lifesaving is our priority. But the fundamental sustainability of the charity is also a consideration," he said, pointing out that local authorities contribute just 20 per cent of the £20 million needed to pay for a normal lifeguard season, with the remaining £16 million coming from RNLI donations.

Currently the charity expected to face a £45 million shortfall in funding by the end of the year because of the cancellation of fundraising activities.

"So, we’re asking for help to manage an impossible situation – we’re asking the public to heed our safety advice and we’re asking the government to restrict access to the coast until we have lifeguard patrols back on beaches," said Mr Dowrie.

"Only then can we keep the public safe from the sea and our lifeguards safe from the virus."

Read next: RNLI and Coastguard ask people to take extra care visiting the coast