Cosmeston Aqua Park welcomes South Wales Fire and Rescue team for a joint training session 

Cosmeston Lakes Aqua Park welcomed crews from Penarth Fire station for a collaborative training session on the water obstacles designed to strengthen emergency response and promote inter-agency cooperation between the organisations. 

The scenario-based session, held on the park’s open water, was part of the Aqua Park’s ongoing lifeguard development programme. Firefighters and lifeguards practised joint rescue drills using the park’s custom-designed rescue sled, sharing operational techniques and building teamwork under pressure. 

The local fire and rescue team were just a few of the groups of people the Cosmeston Lake Aqua Park has welcomed in the past month. More than 1,200 students and young people from more than 20 local schools from the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff have visited the Aqua Park for some end of term fun, and water safety education. 

Ioan Mathias, site manager at Cosmeston Lakes Aqua Park, said of the training:

“Having worked in the South Wales Ambulance Service, I know how vital teamwork and calm decision-making are in a high-stakes environment. This kind of collaborative training is invaluable, not just for sharpening skills but for building mutual trust between emergency services.

Ioan added: “It’s been great to welcome so many school groups from around the region to the Aqua Park too. Outdoor learning isn’t just about fun – it builds confidence, supports mental and physical health, and encourages young people to connect with nature.”

Simon Phillips from Penarth Fire station praised the team at Cosmeston Aqua Park: 

“Collaborative training is always valuable for us, especially when it helps both teams understand each other’s techniques. The lifeguards at Cosmeston Aqua Park were extremely well-trained and responsive, and it was great to see such a high standard of lifeguarding in an open water environment. Being able to observe how the team handle different situations and share some of our equipment and methods made the experience even more worthwhile.”

This joint training initiative is part of Cosmeston Aqua Park’s commitment to community safety and continuous improvement. As the first UK Aqua Park operator to be recognised as an Approved Training Centre by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) in 2018, the organisation has since trained over 300 lifeguards in the UK’s leading Open Water Lifeguarding qualification across its three national sites.

To find out more about Cosmeston Lakes Aqua Park, visit here: https://aquaparkgroup.co.uk/locations/cardiff/