CLIFF WALKER LOCATED AFTER SEARCH

At just after 5.00 pm this evening, Humber Coastguard received a call from a 60 year old man who reported that he thought he was stuck at Skirlington, on Skipsea beach, near the caravan park. The tide was coming in, and he was unable to make it off the beach.

The Hornsea Coastguard Rescue Team was immediately turned out to assess the situation in case a rescue from seaward was required, whilst Humber Coastguard attempted to clarify as darkness fell, exactly where the stranded man was on the beach, a distance of about 6 miles from Hornsea. A rescue helicopter, R 128, was also scrambled.

Peter Macauley, Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard said

“In trying to locate where exactly the man was on a very long stretch of beach, we identified with the stranded man that he had set off walking from Skirlington towards Skipsea at around 2.30 pm this afternoon. He had gone down onto the beach at approximately 3.45 pm to make the return walk to Skirlington. He described that he had passed a wooden house with a caravan parked next to it, about 200yds from his position.

“He thought that he had missed the path back up at Skirlington. He was, at the time, stood on a pile of mud and estimating that he had about 5 minutes prior to water being knee to waist deep in water. He had considered climbing the cliff, but described that it was mud and crumbling in various places and seemed also dangerous. He described being able to see two lights at sea both in direction of Bridlington and approximately 1 mile apart.

“At just after 6.00 pm the Coastguard Team fired a white parachute flare to light the scene whilst a Coastguard vehicle searched the cliff northwards. The rescue helicopter also conducted a search from the air and finally located the man at Atwick, considerably further south than he had realised and met with the Coastguard Team. Fortunately the man needed no medical assistance and he was very grateful for the attention given to his plight.

Peter continued

“He did exactly the right thing this evening by asking for the Coastguard through the 999 system, and trying to identify his own location, as much as possible, in the gloom to assist us. Fortunately the weather was reasonably benign this evening which no doubt assisted in locating him.”



Notes to Editors

• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector. www.seavisionuk.org

• • Stay safe - before heading out on the water get trained, check weather and tides, wear a lifejacket, avoid alcohol and keep in touch

• Follow us on Twitter. Find us at MCA_media

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