Female and three children cut off by tide at Budle Bay near Seahouses
Lifeboats News Release
Seahouses inshore lifeboat was called to assist a female with three children cut off by the high tide at Budle Bay, Northumberland.
At 1:02pm on Saturday 28 September 2019, UK Coastguard requested the launch of Seahouses inshore lifeboat (ILB) to the report of a female and three children, cut off by the rising tide, on a sand bank in Budle Bay.
At 1:06pm the ILB launched on service and made best speed to the location. On arrival, the inshore lifeboat spotted the casualties on the north side of the bay, and had some difficulty reaching them due to the shallow water and sand banks.
The crew made their way on foot through the water for the final few yards, and carried/walked the casualties to the lifeboat. They were then taken by lifeboat across the bay where they were handed into the care of local Coastguard Teams from Seahouses and Howick, who had also been tasked to the scene. Once the casualties were safely ashore, the lifeboat returned to station.
The tides were particularly high, being known as Spring Tides. High tide was approximately 3:17pm at Budle Bay.
Seahouses Lifeboat Operations Manager Ian Clayton urged the public to be aware of tides:
We urge the public to be aware of the speed tides can come in, cutting off the unwary. Tides this weekend were big Spring tides, being higher than normal, and the tide can come in quickly across areas such as mud flats and shallow bays, and can quickly encircle and trap people on foot in areas like Budle Bay and Holy Island. Visitors need to be aware of the dangers. On this occasion, we had a good outcome, but it could have been very different.'
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For more information please contact Ian Clayton, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer:
[email protected]
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