Cleethorpes Lifeboat rescues two teenagers from sandbank

North East Lincolnshire's Beach Safety team had seen them on their safety cameras when the two people stood up, as they were on the seaward side of the sandbank and couldn't be seen from shore before then. By the time they were seen, the bank was already well cut off by the incoming tide.

Coastguard Rescue Team and Beach Safety Officers attended on the shore to warn against trying to enter the water as currents in that area are dangerously strong.

When the lifeboat arrived, the crew found two local 13-year-old girls who had been enjoying a day on the beach, digging in the sand and popping seaweed, thinking they were on a part of the beach that was free of sandbanks.

The Lifeboat returned them to shore to warm up in the lifeboat station and await the arrival of relieved parents, who had been due to pick them up shortly afterwards. On the way back, the crew stopped on the beach to show the girls how quickly the bank had been covered by the tide and to give them advice on being safe in the future while still enjoying the beach.

One of the girls' parents said: "I'm so relieved, I've always told her about the sandbanks but you never expect to get a call from the lifeboat station. I'm really grateful to all the crew, they do an amazing job."

Helmsman Steve Burton said: "These girls were very lucky, the sandbank they were on was covered by water less than 20 minutes after we left, and they were very relieved and grateful."

There are many sandbanks on Cleethorpes beach and it is recommended to return to the high water mark 5 hours before high tide. If you see someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

ENDS

RNLI Media contact: Matt McNally 07771-797556

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