Trapped on a shrinking sandbank: 120 people rescued in Rhyl
At Rhyl Beach, 120 people are getting cut off by a rapidly incoming tide. Will the volunteers bring them to safety before it’s too late?
It was Saturday 9 September 2023. Hundreds of people had flocked to Rhyl Beach to enjoy a sunny day.
Having been part of Rhyl’s lifeboat crew for many years, Kevin Taggart often senses when he might get called to rescue. ‘I keep a close eye on tide times and the weather forecast, so sometimes I get a gut feeling about a shout,’ says Kevin. ‘It makes me think about what I have planned for the day, in case I need to drop everything and go.’
This day was no different. ‘My wife and I were on our way back to Rhyl after doing some shopping, and we had only just been talking about whether I’d get a call,’ says Kevin. ‘The next thing I knew, she shouted: “Your pager is going off!”’
Volunteer Crew Member Harry Clews’s pager also buzzed. ‘My family and I were about to go for a walk with the dog, but that had to be put on hold,’ says Harry. ‘When my pager goes off, my kids always say: “Hurry up, Dad, quick!” They get excited and know I have to go straight away.’
Kevin, Harry and their fellow Rhyl volunteers raced to the lifeboat station and, when they arrived, they quickly learned the extent of the situation. The tide was coming in incredibly fast, with 120 people trapped on a shrinking sandbank.
Time was of the essence
After a crew briefing, the volunteers launched their D class lifeboat from the beach, with Kevin at the helm. And with the sandbank disappearing more as each second passed, they needed to get there before it was too late.
As the volunteers approached the scene, it was clear how big of a rescue it was going to be. There were people scattered across the sandbank, from dog walkers to families with young children.
‘They were in a lot of danger,’ says Kevin. ‘The tide was turning, and people were getting cut off.’
Harry recalls: ‘When we got to the first part of the sandbank, the water was up to my waist.’
While some people were frightened, many were completely unaware of what was happening.
‘I remember two children asking me what was going on. They had no idea of the danger they were in,’ says Kevin. ‘But other people were running up and down the sandbank and yelling for our help, terrified that they wouldn’t make it back to shore in time.’
‘The training just kicks in’
To help the crew with the rescue, some of the volunteers back at the lifeboat station headed out in their Land Rover to patrol the beach. HM Coastguard also arrived to help.
With so many people to bring to safety, the crew’s training was vital in helping them prioritise who to rescue first – especially for Harry, as it was his first mass rescue.
‘When I first saw the amount of people on the beach, I thought: “How are we going to do this?” But the training just kicks in, and you know instantly what you need to do to get people to safety,’ says Harry.
‘As soon as your pager goes off, you remember all the hard work and dedication that we put into our training,’ says Kevin. ‘Our training helps prepare us for big rescues like this, as we learn how to spot people in the most danger so we can be in the right place at the right time.’
The crew powered up and down the water in the inshore lifeboat. After warning people of the danger of the incoming tide, a few of those closer to shore were able to get themselves to safety. But many others were completely stranded – with the only way back to shore being by lifeboat.
‘We can only fit so many people in the lifeboat at once, so we had to keep reassuring people that we weren’t going to leave them behind,’ explains Harry. ‘Our people skills were really important on this rescue. We have to stay calm while keeping the people we rescue calm, so we can get back to shore as quickly and safely as possible.’
‘Things could have gone drastically wrong’
After an hour of going back and forth between the sandbank and the beach, the crew brought all 120 people back to safety. It’s thanks to support from kind people like you that RNLI volunteers can launch to rescue those in trouble on the water. A situation like this could have ended very differently had they not been there.
‘The beach can seem like a big playground, but the tide can come in surprisingly quickly,’ says Kevin. ‘People would have found themselves with no ground left to stand on. Some might have even tried to make their own way back and could have been swept out to sea by the strong tidal currents, which is a really worrying thought.’
Harry adds: ‘Things could have gone drastically wrong if we hadn’t been there. The lifeboat station is practically on the beach, so it was very lucky that we were there to help almost straight away.’
It takes a team
The incredible teamwork from the Rhyl RNLI volunteers and the Coastguard was key in rescuing so many people.
‘We’re like a family at Rhyl. We all train together, so we know everyone’s individual strengths and how to work well as a team,’ says Kevin. ‘And the Coastguard and the volunteers in the Land Rover were a massive help. They communicated with us the whole time to help us cover the entire sandbank.’
‘Working together to bring people home safe is always so rewarding – even more so on this rescue, as so many people were involved,’ adds Kevin.
‘Knowing you’ve potentially saved 120 people’s lives is an amazing feeling,’ says Harry.Tidal safety tips from the crew
Tides can vary throughout the month and can easily catch you out if you haven’t checked them.
‘People aren’t always aware of how quickly the tides and conditions can change, so make sure you always check the tide times and weather forecast before you head to the water,’ advises Harry.
‘While you’re out, be aware of your surroundings and the tide’s direction. Make sure you leave enough time to get yourself to safety – especially if you’re visiting a beach out of lifeguard season,’ adds Kevin.