At approximately 1640 this evening we received reports of a tent on the sandbanks on the west shore. We arrived to find that 11 people in 3 groups were walking on the sandbanks unknowingly being slowly cut off by the tide.
We carried out a thorough search for the tent and determined that the tent was in fact the second liferaft on the Conwy side of the sandbanks.
Two of the CROs (Coastguard Rescue Officers), kitted out in Lifejackets, made their way towards the sandbanks while another stayed behind to get an overview of the situation and to keep an eye on the tide.
The largest group, with 5 people, made their own way off but the other 2 groups carried on walking. The two CROs attracted the 2 groups attention by using whistles and hand signals, without having to go onto the sandbanks themselves, and managed to beckon them off.
After giving both groups safety advice the two CROs made their way back to the Coastguard vehicle. But the CRO who stayed behind spotted another group of people walking out onto the sandbanks, completely oblivious to the danger. She then contacted the CROs on the beach by radio to alert them of the pair walking out.
This time the beach crew had to make their way onto the sandbanks as the tide was coming in, and, due to a combination of checking the tide times and local knowledge, the CROs knew exactly how much time they had to get on and off the sandbanks ensuring they factored in a safe margin.
They blew their whistles and used hand signals but were unable to attract the pair's attention and they kept walking. Eventually the CROs got to the pair and told them to get off the sandbanks and were issued with safety advice after returning to shore. In all there were 15 people who could have been cut off by the tide.
If your going to go to the west shore, Please DO NOT walk out onto the lower part of the beach.
No comments:
Post a Comment