RNLI lifeboat crews in Lincolnshire are encouraging beach visitors to prioritise safety as the recent period of mild weather has resulted in a surge in incidents. This year has seen RNLI’s Cleethorpes station respond to 37 emergencies— a count considerably higher than usually anticipated around this time in the summer season. The charity’s member, Matt McNally, made a point of the significant rise in call-outs over the previous month. This increase is mainly due to visitors being trapped by the tide and kayakers and paddleboarders requiring assistance against offshore winds.
In a particularly striking event, a Coastguard helicopter had to rescue five people after they miscalculated the tide on the sands near Cleethorpes. McNally asserted that getting trapped by the tide is a regular occurrence at the resort but the instances have elevated this year. He also brought attention to the increased incidents involving inflatable paddleboards and kayaks. While they provide more stability than inflatable toys, their usability can be severely compromised by offshore winds. Recent emergencies have led to rescues of people unable to find their way back to the shore unassisted.
Dale Chapman, the operations manager for Mablethorpe RNLI Lifeboat, reiterated these concerns, stating that the station has already dealt with 13 call-outs this year— a total greater than is typical for this part of the year. This boost in activity precedes the arrival of the peak summer holiday period.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
