A RNLI lifeguard from Bosherston has flown out to the Philippines to help save lives.

Chris Rigby, 29, is one of two RNLI instructors who delivered a lifesaving course, aimed at saving hundreds of people from drowning in the Philippines each year.

He spent five days at the Camotes Islands last week (beginning Monday, March 17) delivering lifeguard training to 26 people and an extra three days 10 of them to share their skills with others.

The trainees were from a variety of organisations from across the country – from lifesaving clubs to coastguard departments, the fire service, police and local government.

Before starting his 7,000-mile journey, Chris, a south Wales RNLI lifeguard supervisor said: “It’s a real honour to join the RNLI’s international team and being able to help tackle the global drowning epidemic.

“I am eager to make the 7,000-mile journey to the Philippines and put the lifesaving and training skills the RNLI have taught and equipped me with into practice, in what will be a completely different environment compared to my day-to-day work in Pembrokeshire.”

RNLI international development manager Steve Wills said: “Drowning is, sadly, a common occurrence in the Philippines. As an island country, they are surrounded by water and rely heavily on it for daily living.

“Many drowning deaths are preventable if there are trained lifesavers on hand to respond quickly and take the right action to carry out rescues and save lives.

“The course our trainers will deliver covers the absolute essentials of lifeguarding. Our priority is that we leave the candidates better equipped with knowledge and skills to save lives and, importantly, carry on developing the lifesaving abilities of their own organisations into the future.”

An estimated 400,000 drownings happen worldwide each year.