Lifeguard hours 'scaled back' at pier jump beach

Lifeguard operations at a beach where a teen died after jumping into the sea were "scaled back" years before, an inquest has heard.

David Ejimofor, 15, died at Aberavon beach, Neath Port Talbot, on 19 June 2023 after joining friends to celebrate the end of their GCSE exams.

The court in Swansea heard David died just after 19:00 BST and lifeguard services finished at 18:00.

Pete Rooney the RNLI's regional lifeguard manager for Wales and the west, told the inquest lifeguards worked until 20:30 before the RNLI took over in 2010, but that the hours had since been scaled back for them to finish at 18:00 following an analysis of data on lifeguard "shouts".

Assistant coroner, Ed Ramsey, read out evidence from the former manager of lifeguard services at the beach, Harry Worth.

Mr Ramsey said the the lifeguard policy was to put lifeguards on the breakwater, or pier as it is known locally, and they would work until 20:30 in the busy summer months. Mr Ramsey asked Mr Rooney why this changed.

Mr Rooney said the lifeguards worked until 20:00 in the first year the RNLI took over but following a review of data the "national model" was applied where lifeguards worked between 10:00 and 18:00.

He added "the data would analyse the number of lifeguard and coastguard shouts, and it didn't show an increase in the area".

The inquest heard how Aberavon beach is covered by four lifeguards in the busy summer months.

The beach is broken up into three areas by the RNLI - primary, where the lifeguards are based; secondary, which are patrolled; and a tertiary, or third, area which is not patrolled.

The area, known locally as the small beach and pier, where David died, is a tertiary area.

The coroner asked Mr Rooney "if lifeguards were on the small beach could they have got to David very quickly" and he replied "yes, they could have".

Mr Worth said the pier had "always been a danger during the summer bathing season and especially at high tide".

He said that was why lifeguards patrolled it before the RNLI took over lifeguarding of the beach, and added there had to be flexibility in lifeguard hours.

"If it's sunny, working 10:00 to 18:00 is not the answer," he said.

"You can't have a generic time for the whole country, because if the weather is good lifeguards need to work till at least 20:00."

The inquest heard provisions by the RNLI are still "exactly the same" today as when David died.

The pier or breakwater is still accessible but there are locked gates and warning signs. The court heard how the gates are only waist high and could easily be climbed over.

A RNLI risk assessment was requested by Neath Port Talbot council of the small beach and pier.

The assessment concluded the risk level was low to medium and while a lifeguard could be considered it was not recommended.

Signage was strongly recommended.

Mr Rooney said the "small beach is a quieter beach than the main Aberavon beach if we covered it we would have to increase resources".

He added they would start monitoring the breakwater from the late May bank holiday on Monday, which is the start of lifeguards' summer season.

The inquest continues.