
Wells inshore lifeboat launches to assist people cut off by the incoming tide
RNLI Wells inshore lifeboat Peter Wilcox was paged for immediate launch at 6:52pm on Sunday 20 August 2023 to render assistance to a person cut off by the incoming tide on the high sands offshore on the west side of Wells-next-the-sea harbour.
As the inshore lifeboat with a crew of three was launching outside the boathouse at 7:03pm the informant advised the Coastguard that the person cut off had managed to wade ashore to safety. At this time two further people and a dog could clearly be seen from the boathouse on the outer sandbank at the entrance to the harbour on the west side. The inshore lifeboat continued to launch and was quickly on scene at 7:08pm and monitored the two people and the dog as they had elected to wade across the incoming tide in the low way drain of the channel without assistance to the main beach.
It was deemed prudent then for the inshore lifeboat to do a sweep of the foreshore to check for any other people who could potentially be cut off and they noticed another person who was cut off on the east side of the harbour channel on Bob Hall sands.
The inshore lifeboat communicated with the individual who said he would swim across the channel to the foreshore. The inshore lifeboat held station whilst the person swam across the channel carried down by the fast flowing tide before coming ashore on the main beach some distance inside the harbour.
RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Hardy, said: ‘I am pleased today’s call out ended well, but unfortunately this type of incident happens all too often. It is essential that beach goers check the tide times before they set out. People enjoying the beach when the tide is out, should always ensure they are back on the main beach at least four hours before high tide.’
With no further signs of people being cut off the inshore lifeboat returned to station and was ashore at 7:40pm, refuelled and rehoused and ready again for service at 8:00pm
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