TWO BOYS RESCUED OFF CLIFFS AT WHITLEY BAY

At 12.50pm, Humber MRCC received a report from Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team that two young boys, aged 9 and 11 had become stuck on the cliffs at Whitley Bay.

Blyth Coastguard were on a routine patrol at the time, and had intercepted a call from the RNLI beach lifeguards, who were calling Humber Coastguard to alert them to the incident.

Humber Coastguard immediately tasked Blyth Coastguard rescue team to assist, and also called on the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade to attend the incident.

Once these resources arrived on scene, it was clear that the boys were indeed in danger, so much so that one of the RNLI lifeguards attempted to rescue the boys himself. He had then become trapped in a difficult position. From the position they were in, they faced a 30 foot drop.

Rescue Helicopter 131 from RAF Boulmer, who was also training in the area was called to assist with the rescue.

The two boys were eventually rescued by the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, and lowered safely to the beach, where they were checked over by ambulance paramedics, before being taken home by the police.

The RNLI lifeguard was taken off the cliffs by the helicopter and lowered to the beach.

Mike Puplett, Watch Manager, Humber Coastguard said:

These 2 young boys have been lucky today. The weather conditions, in particular the gusting winds made this a difficult and dangerous scenario for both the boys and the rescue personnel.

Once again people have become unnecessarily trapped on the cliffs. We understand that youngsters have a sense of adventure, but fences around cliff edges are there for a reason. I would like to thank all the people involved in the rescue, and in particular the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, who as always provided a first class response.

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