COASTGUARDS WARN BEACH USERS TO BEWARE OF RIP CURRENTS FOLLOWING TWO NEAR MISSES
Coastguards are issuing a strong safety
message this afternoon as tragedies were narrowly avoided on the Northumberland
and South
Wales coastlines.
‘These children, teenagers and adults have
been extremely lucky today, and we are thankful of a safe outcome. Strong
currents are unforgiving, and I urge all beach users and bathers to be aware of
the inherent dangers. Two men attempted self rescue, and were also overcome
themselves.”
At 1.30
pm , multiple 999
calls where received from onlookers at St Aidan’s Beach, Seahouses, as two
teenage girls got into difficulty in a rip current. Battling the strong current,
one of them managed to get to safety but with one girl still in the water, her
brother attempted the rescue himself.
Both Inshore and All Weather RNLI
Lifeboats from Seahouses were requested to launch and the Seahouses Coastguard
Rescue Team were requested to attend. Rescue Helicopter 131 from RAF Boulmer was
also diverted to the scene. As the 999 calls continued, it emerged that the
father of both boy and girl had also gone into the water but had abandoned his
rescue as he could not fight the tide. Though exhausted, the boy and girl
managed to get ashore themselves but required some urgent medical attention.
They were evacuated to hospital by the Rescue Helicopter along with the other
girl.
Being cold, shocked and having swallowed a
lot of sea water, the three teenagers are now being treated at the
Wansbeck Hospital , Newbiggin and Humber Coastguard cannot
stress enough the importance of awareness of tides and currents when on the
beach especially if visiting the area on holiday.
At 2.30
pm Swansea
Coastguard received a 999 call from a woman on a beach at
Three Cliff Bay on the South Gower coast. Her three young
children and their father were in difficulty in the water and were battling with
a rip current. The rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was scrambled, the
Mumbles Inshore Lifeboat was launched and the Oxwich Coastguard Rescue Team were
sent to the scene. The Coastguard also broadcast a distress message to which
several vessels responded.
One of the children had managed to make it
to rocks and was rescued by the lifeboat from there. The other two children and
their father were picked up from the water by the lifeboat. All four were
airlifted to Morriston Hospital suffering with water ingestion and shock.
Mike Puplett, Humber Coastguard Watch
Manager says:
David Jones, Swansea Coastguard Watch
Manager says:
"If you are visiting the beach, try to go
to one which is patrolled by lifeguards and swim between the flags. Take notice
of any warning signs. In an emergency tell the lifeguard if one is available or
if on a unguarded beach call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’