Two Swiss visitors trapped with car on Holy Island Causeway by rising tide
At 4.44pm on Sunday 10 April 2016, Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Seahouses inshore lifeboat to go to the assistance of two Swiss visitors in a car which had become surrounded by the rising tide on Holy Island Causeway.
The inshore lifeboat RNLB Peter Downes was quickly launched, and proceeded by sea to the causeway. On arrival, the car was partially submerged and the two occupants had made their way to the refuge box on the causeway bridge.
They were rescued by the inshore lifeboat and brought to the mainland side of the causeway, where they were met by local Police and other members of their party, all visiting from Switzerland.
Local Coastguards from Holy Island had also responded and were in attendance on the Island side of the Causeway.
The group made a generous donation to the RNLI, and thanked them for their prompt response.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Ian Clayton commented: ‘Calls to the Causeway have reduced considerably lately, which is good news. However here were some Swiss nationals, with some language problems, and possibly no experience of the sea or tides.
‘We hope their experience has not affected their visit to our area too much, and that their personal effects in their roof box on their car were not too badly affected by the rising tide, which was very high today. We never expect a donation from those we rescue, but were delighted that they chose to do so today.’
The police were making recovery arrangements for the vehicle when the tide receded, and the inshore lifeboat was returned to station by road due to choppy sea conditions.
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