West Kirby RNLI rescue four teenagers cut off by the tide at Middle Hilbre

The lifeboat’s assistance was requested at 10.45pm following a phone call to West Kirby RNLI’s station from a distressed teenager who had found herself and her friends cut off from a rising 9m tide whilst moving between Middle Hilbre and the main island of Hilbre.

The volunteer crew had been preparing to provide preemptive assistance to a yacht that had been unable to secure its moorings on West Kirby beach at the time. West Kirby RNLI notified HM Coastguard of the call and the crew were paged directly from the station.

Upon sighting of the casualties on Middle Hilbre, the three crew members transferred the group to the D-Class inshore lifeboat and returned them safely to shore. All four were unharmed but slightly shaken from their experience. No medical assistance was required. West Kirby RNLI then re-launched the lifeboat to lend assistance to the local yacht, which was escorted to a mooring.

Speaking following the call out, Richard Diamond, West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘Getting cut off by the tide can be a frightening experience. We would remind visitors to Hilbre to check the tidal information before setting out and to take appropriate clothing. There is information concerning tide times and height on the noticeboard opposite to the ice-cream kiosk at the Dee Lane end of the Marine Lake and online. As the summer continues, we would remind people it is important to respect the water and to guard against any hazardous situations as the rocks between the islands are extremely slippy and this is made more precarious when it is dark.’

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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