Record number of emergencies as thousands flock to coast

As thousands flocked to the beach to enjoy the heatwave, the good weather brought a record number of emergencies for the Coastguard across the UK, including the east coast..
The air ambulance arriving at Skegness beach to take two casualties to hospital.The air ambulance arriving at Skegness beach to take two casualties to hospital.
The air ambulance arriving at Skegness beach to take two casualties to hospital.

On Friday, an air ambulance took two young casualties to hospital after they fell ill on Skegness beach.

The persons had been in the water and were taken ill on the beach, according to Skegness Coastguard.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Casualty care was carried out with the assistance of RNLI Skegness," reported the Coastguard.

"It was then determined that the best way of transporting the casualties was by air so rescue 912 was called.

"We secured a landing site with the assistance of Wrangle.

"Casualties were then taken to hospital by air."

John Byford, who witnessed the arrival of the air ambulance, commented: "Two very lucky kids!!!

"On one of the hottest days of the year, the beach at Skegness is jam-packed, so visitors are now resorting to swimming in areas that are unpatrolled by lifeguards.

"Not a good idea!"

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Earlier the Coastguard had been tasked to reports of a missing six-year-old male.

However, when arriving on scene they were also were told by the lifeguard that a two year old had also gone missing.

The two-year-old was quickly found and they were then diverted to reports of the two persons in the water further up the coast .

After dealing with this incident, they were tasked to assist Skegness Lifeboat with a casualty from a boat suffering sea sickness.

No medical assistance required but safety advice was given.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When returning to station, they were tasked to a missing child at Ingoldmells. However, they were stood down when arriving on scene because police confirmed the child had been found.

The day' incidents required three team members in attendance from Skegness and two from Wrangle.

Saturday saw three callouts, involving two dinghies drifting out to sea and a missing child - and resulted in an appeal by HM Coastguard to take extra care to stay safe during the hot weather.

HM Coastguard reported it had dealt with more than 300 incidents in the UK on Friday – the most in one day for more than four years.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The total number of incidents for the whole of the UK were 329, with 232 callouts for coastguard rescue teams. Lifeboats – both RNLI and independent were called out 129 times, aircraft were sent out 22 times and hovercraft, three.

There was a high number of incidents involving people cut off by the tide and reports of missing children, as well as swimmers and paddleboarders getting into difficulty.

Call outs were heaviest in England, along the east and south coast and the north west.

Julie-Anne Wood, Duty Operations Director for HM Coastguard said: ‘It was less beautiful a day for those who got themselves into trouble and had to be rescued. Some people will remember July 31 for all the wrong reasons.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We completely understand that people want to enjoy the coast. We also know that even the most experienced swimmer, paddle boarder and walker can be caught out by currents and tides respectively.

"We’re heading into some more good weather and we would really ask you to check and double check the tide times – put a timer warning on a smartphone to remind you - be aware of things like rip currents, and make sure you have a means of contacting us if things do go wrong.

"As the figures show, we’ll always respond when someone calls 999 and asks for the Coastguard, we’ll always answer distress on VHF and we’ll always do everything we can to rescue those in need. All we ask in return is that you take extra care at the coast – it can be unmerciful to the unwary and even to those who know it so well."

On Sunday, the Skegness RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was tasked to reports of an inflatable blowing out to sea from Ingoldmells Point.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, as the ILB launched they received information that the inflatable had made it safely ashore.

The crew immediately recovered the boat and returned to station.

Skegness Coastguard reported: "Another busy day for the team with four callouts. Including inflatables missing children and a kite surfer in difficulty. All children found, persons on dinghy safe and kite surfers safe.

"A total of six team members in attendance."