LIVERPOOL COASTGUARD ASSIST COCKLERS INVOLVED IN THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS

Liverpool Coastguard coordinated three separate incidents in the early hours of this morning involving cocklers in the Ribble estuary.
At 4.20 am Liverpool Coastguard were called to report that a boat had capsized and that three people were in the water. It later transpired that the vessel had hit a buoy causing it to overturn; one of the three crew had been trapped in the cabin but had managed to escape with his lifejacket on. The Coastguard had requested the Lytham St Annes RNLI inshore lifeboat to launch. However, the three crew were rescued by a Welsh fishing vessel which was nearby and took them to shore.
At 6.30 am the Coastguard received a call reporting that up to 15 people were in difficulty on the cockle beds. The call was made by the one of the group who had already made shore. The Lytham St Annes Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to begin shoreline searches and the Lytham St Annes RNLI inshore lifeboat was requested to launch again. About seven people are known to have made it to shore. Coastguards and the lifeboat have thoroughly searched the area to ensure that no other cocklers from the group remain.
During the search for the 15 people, a further person on board an inflatable boat was also found and brought to shore.
Paul Parkes, Liverpool Coastguard Watch Manager says:
“River estuaries are hazardous places. If you do not have the right knowledge and the correct equipment please do not venture out on them. If you are thinking about going out on the estuary, consider the following:
As a minimum you should have:
Local tide tables and an accurate watch; knowledge of current and forecast weather conditions, eg fog/flooding; knowledge of local conditions, eg quicksands, shifting gullies, rivers in flood, the nature and speed of the tide.
Equipment you should have with you: A suitable communications device - either a VHF marine band radio or a mobile telephone according to reception. Batteries should be fully charged and the devices should be kept dry. You should also have a location device, preferably a Global Positioning Unit (GPS) and/or compass so that you can retrace your way back to land in adverse conditions. You need high-visibility clothing which is both warm and weatherproof and whistles and flares in case of fog or mist. If you are going out in a boat wear a lifejacket.”

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