Photographer Kirk Gilmour captured just one of those instances when Austinmer lifeguard Dillon Ruiz leapt into the water with his rescue board and brought a young boy back to the beach after he got caught in a rip on Monday morning.

The rescue was over in little more than a minute, with hardly anyone noticing, but it is a scene repeated countless times across our region as lifeguards and lifesavers put their lives on the line to keep our swimmers safe during the busy summer holidays.