THE NSC has been rated as one of the best lifeguard training centres in the British Isles.

The National Sports Centre in Douglas scored 100 percent in an external assessment carried out by the Institute of Qualified Lifeguards.

Minister for Community Culture and Leisure, David Cretney MHK, said: "This is an excellent achievement and it's great to see that the NSC opens itself up regularly for external scrutiny.

"The assessment results demonstrate that lifeguard training is taken very seriously for the safety and wellbeing of the general public.

"The NSC constantly strives to maintain high standards and once again the NSC has shown that it's one of the best sports centres in the British Isles. Well done to everyone involved."

More than 600 people have trained and qualified at the NSC and have subsequently gone in to the police, fire service, prison service and ambulance service as well as the NSC and regional swimming pools.

Several training courses are run each year which the general public can also enrol on.

Simon Walmsley, NSC assistant manager with responsibility for training, said: "This result is a testament to all the trainer assessors for all their hard work over the years developing and improving the standards of lifeguard training throughout the Island.

"The lifeguard training is benchmarked with other operators and being marked as one of the best ultimately means that the public are in safe hands when using the NSC facilities."

The NSC is assessed each year to ensure that lifeguard training is carried out and delivered in accordance with the Royal Lifesaving Society guidelines.

The sports centre is assessed against set criteria and is required to provide evidence to the assessor on all training delivery including life support, lifeguard theory, first aid and rescue skills.