The first call came at 2.51pm when HM Coastguard tasked the charity’s inshore lifeboat (ILB) Ernie Wellings, following reports of a young child missing on South Beach. A crew of three RNLI volunteers prepared to launch, but shortly before entering the water HM Coastguard confirmed the child had been located safe and well, allowing the crew to stand down.
While recovering the lifeboat, a second tasking was received at 3.25pm regarding another missing child, believed to be on a bodyboard, in the South Beach area. The volunteer crew immediately launched and headed to the reported last known location, beginning a search of the surrounding waters and shoreline. Thankfully, the child was quickly located safe and well on the shore and the crew were stood down at 3.35pm.
As the crew made their way back towards the launch site, a third and separate call was received from HM Coastguard at 3.39pm regarding another missing child on South Beach. Once again, the child was found safe and well, bringing a successful conclusion to a remarkably busy period for the volunteer lifeboat crew, on one of the hottest days of the year and a very busy afternoon on the beach at Bridlington. Following the third incident, Ernie Wellings was recovered, washed down and made ready for service again by 4.30pm.
A fourth request for service came from the HM Coastguard at 6.42pm for two adult paddleboarders in the water struggling to return to shore on the north side of the town. Thankfully the volunteer crew were stood down at 6.51pm as the HM Coastguard reported the pair had returned to shore safely.
Bridlington RNLI Launch Authority Chris Feeley said, ‘It is all too easy to become separated from your children on a very busy beach, and it can be extremely distressing for everyone involved.
Fortunately, there are simple steps families can take to help. Bridlington RNLI has been supplied with thousands of beach safety wristbands which allow parents and carers to write their contact number on them for children to wear while visiting the beach. If a child becomes separated from their family, these wristbands can help emergency services or members of the public reunite them much more quickly.’
Beach safety wristbands are available free of charge from the RNLI shop beside Bridlington Lifeboat Station, the RNLI shop on King Street, RNLI Lifeguard units, Richie’s Café and the Foreshore Office on the South Promenade.
The afternoon was also a memorable one for volunteer crew member Dalton Smith, who was taking part in his first operational service aboard the Bridlington inshore lifeboat. Dalton added, ‘To be involved in three call outs within such a short period of time on my first operational outing was certainly an experience. Thankfully, on each occasion the children were found safe and well, which is the best possible outcome for everyone concerned.’
Bridlington RNLI is reminding beach visitors to keep a close eye on children, arrange a meeting point in case family members become separated, and make use of the free beach safety wristbands available across the resort.
