Had to call lifeboat out

I wish I could figure out how to upload pics from my mobile, I got some good ones.

Anyway, I'm off work today so I had a walk down the beach. I saw two people quite far out on the rocks. I and cl1.1 had just got off the rocks because I'm a bit more sea wise than some, and know how to check what the tide is doing and how fast.

These other two people were much further out than we'd been, and we're quite oblivious to the rapidly encroaching tide as they looked for creatures or whatever they were doing. They were too far for me to shout them.

We watched from the beach for a minute or two, waiting and hoping they'd realise that their available routes back were slowing being submerged. It reached a point where I wasn't willing to wait any longer. I figured to allow 15 minutes for the lifeboat to be launched and reach them, and by that time the rock they were on, which was rapidly becoming an island, would itself be under water. So I phoned 999 and calmly explained what was happening, giving the most accurate description of both my location and theirs as possible. Then waited and watched.

The two people seemed to realise their predicament by this time, but obviously had no idea I'd already told the coastguard. Foolishly but understandably they attempted to wade back. I say foolishly because the layout of those rocks is such that it is deep ravines covered in seaweed. It is possible to step in water that's just a few inches deep, then the next step drops you into water 10 ft or more deep, with very strong currents.

My concern now was that with the two people attempting to wade back, they could very suddenly got under and get dragged by the current. I felt quite useless and frustrated as I watched, but I figured if they do go under, somebody needs to see exactly where they went under to give rescuers any chance of finding them. I briefly considered using my local knowledge (I've known those rocks like the back of my hand since I was little ) to go in and guide them back, but that same local knowledge told me there'd be a number of short swims between me and them, and I didn't think it was to give the lifeboat crew and extra person to look for.

Fortunately by this time, a couple of hundred yards down the beach, we spotted those unpaid heroes bringing their inshore lifeboat down the ramp. Once launched they were on the scene in no time.

Our two intrepid explorers looked relieved based on their arms gestures, and as the lifeboat was now slowly picking it's way through the rocks, our two people tried to wade towards the boat but stopped immediately when a lifeboat man, obviously having a greater awareness of the seriousness of their predicament than they did, bellowed at them repeatedly to stand still and not move. I think it was probably brought home to them when one of the crew jumped out of the boat just a few feet away from them, and was immediately out of his depth and had to swim to the submerged rock our explorers were stood on. From there he hauled the boat close (they'd had to lift the engine out by this time because of the rocks), manhandled our explorers into the boat, and off they went back to the lifeboat station presumably to be educated about the perils of rocks.

 

Well done you!!


(And thank you for the description of their predicament, and rescue - a timely reminder indeed)

 

Well done

I hope you get a big Thank you from the people

 

Nah. Once we saw that the lifeboat crew had reached them, after that it turned into a few minutes of light entertainment as we watched the rescue. Once they were in the boat ok we just went off for an ice cream then came home for lunch.

 

@clueless1 I take my hat off to you. Not everyone would be as quick thinking of the situation as you. They were exceptionally lucky that you were at the beach at that time. I reckon they'll have a greater respect of the big wide blue from now on. xx

 

Wonderful that you could quickly assess the situation and then take action to get the proper help! I shall be sewing a cape for you! and with a big S for.. you know...

 

Which one? The one that got stuck or the ones that rescued them?

All I did was phone 999 and report what I saw. People with far more bravery and skill than me did all the hard work

 

An important thing to remember in this beautiful weather is that looks can be very deceiving.

The sea was clear and flat, like a mill pond as my dad would put it, and our intrepid explorers were maybe 100 yards from the beach when they got stuck. Hundreds of people were on the beach, sunbathing, having a kick about, whatever.

But in that approx 100 yards between our intrepidexplorers and the beach, conditions are pretty gnarly just below the surface. As the rocks form natural narrow but deep channels, with the changing tide, a huge amount of water is forced through those very narrow channels, creating some epic localised currents which don't show at all at the surface unless you're close enough to see the seaweed being dragged through at considerable speed.

The moral of the story is simple. Check the tide before venturing out on rocks, even if you know the rocks well. Seaweed can create epic, potentially fatal illusions about depth, and most importantly no human has ever defeated the sea in a disagreement.

 

Doesn't matter that the people could not thank you personally for your quick thinking; nor that the lifeboat men were not able to put a face to the name of the person who took control and stepped in on what may have been a very serious situation. Oh no, something far more important and valuable took place here: your *son* saw what you did, why you did it and how you handled it. As much as we may hope he doesn't ever have to draw upon today's experience, it will be one that will stay in his mind and may even be of use to him one day too.
You have saved far more than those two people today Bravo!

 

It's in the local news.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/male-female-teenagers-rescued-rnli-11635202

 

Well,done, I hope the 2 teenagers put a few bob in the RNLI tin to help pay for their rescue. A great service and a charity that I do support, especially as my M and D lived right by the sea and regularly saw the wonderful work they do,helping save lives of fishermen and jo public when they get into difficulty.