The lifeguards Mr and Mrs Painter met in The Gambia were among 30 amazing volunteers trained there by the RNLI in 2013.

The Gambian lifeguards also received some basic rescue equipment from the RNLI, and fly the charity's flag with pride. But they are now an independent unit – as with all our International projects, we are giving lifesaving teams the means to save lives without depending on other organisations. The Gambian lifeguards have the training, kit and volunteers to save lives 365 days a year on five beaches and are committed to public service for tourists and locals. They get no financial support for volunteering, and they sometimes survive the day on water mixed with sugar for energy.

Two RNLI trainers are going back to The Gambia later this year to focus on instructor training. Then the Gambian instructors themselves will be able to expand and develop their vital lifesaving service, because they will be able to train new volunteers.

The Painters came across one of many places across Africa where the RNLI is tackling the drowning epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Africa has the highest contintental drowning rate in the world. To help tackle this, we are also helping with flood preparedness, search and rescue and an Aquatic Survival programme that teaches swim survival to children.

Globally, drowning is a leading cause of death. It claims an estimated 400,000 lives a year (over half of which are children) according to WHO figures. This is a conservative estimate.

Other countries the RNLI is working with to reduce drownings include: Senegal, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Uruguay and the Philippines (as highlighted below).