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Seahouses lifeboat alerted to small inflatable in difficulty at Budle Bay

Lifeboats News Release

Seahouses RNLI was alerted today (Monday 29 July) to two young people being blown out to sea at Budle Bay in a small inflatable dinghy.

Image: Seahouses Inshore Lifeboat RNLB D-828 Grace Darling launching.

RNLI/Ian Clayton

Image: Seahouses Inshore Lifeboat RNLB D-828 Grace Darling launching.
At 12.51pm, Seahouses RNLI was paged by HM Coastguard who had received reports of two people being blown out to sea in a small inflatable dinghy at Budle Bay, just north of Bamburgh.

The inshore lifeboat RNLB D-828 Grace Darling was launched and made best speed to Budle Bay. Local Coastguard Shore Based Rescue Teams had also been mobilised to the scene.

On arrival, it was established that the girls had managed to get safely back on to the beach without further assistance.

Seahouses RNLI Volunteer Press Officer, Ian Clayton commented: ‘The RNLI has grave concerns about the use of small inflatable devices in the open sea. The wind can quickly blow such craft away from the shore and put the occupants in danger. These devices are best used in swimming pools or enclosed waterways. If used in the open sea, a safety tether should be considered to prevent the device getting blown out to sea, putting the occupants at serious risk. These are toys and not intended for use in the open sea, where there are strong currents and waves capable of capsizing the devices.’

RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Ian Clayton, RNLI volunteer Press Officer: [email protected]

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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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