It was the first weekend back on duty for Thanet’s RNLI lifeguards and by mid-afternoon on Sunday (24 May) they were stretched to the limit patrolling two of the area’s most popular beaches, Margate Main Sands and Joss Bay.
Margate’s RNLI lifeboats were asked to provide additional back-up for lifeguards between 4pm and 7pm on Sunday. The town’s B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat was launched to guard the waters close inshore at Margate, while the smaller D class lifeboat supported lifeguards at Joss Bay.
Around 5pm, HM Coastguard tasked both lifeboats to assist in the search for a four-year-old child reported to Kent Police as missing on the main sands. Fortunately the child was quickly located safe and well ashore.
Meanwhile, the D class lifeboat located 18 people ‘cut-off’ by the rising tide in an isolated bay at Kingsgate. They were content to remain there until the tide receded and the lifeboat monitored the situation from seawards.
On Bank Holiday Monday, due to large numbers of visitors and vehicles RNLI volunteer crew were at the lifeboat station during the day to ensure the egress route for the lifeboats were kept clear.
Christian Wright, Launching Authority, Margate RNLI said: “Weekends such as this always attract large numbers to our beaches and RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards prepare accordingly, always working together to ensure both locals and visitors return home with happy memories, not tragic ones.
“We urge visitors to keep to lifeguarded beaches and swim between the red and yellow flags – find your nearest lifeguarded beach here https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches
“We also advise against remaining isolated in secluded bays during periods of high water. It may look safe, but attempting to wade around headlands is dangerous as deep gullies may be hidden beneath the water. There can also be problems if someone becomes ill and requires evacuation. In a coastal emergency, always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
There should be more lifeguards on duty presumably the council are aware its a Bank Holiday and the school holiday ahead these are families people visiting thanet make it safe to enjoy
Considering most of the one braincell amoeba can’t or won’t follow Lifeguard advice, you can have 20 Lifeguards and it won’t make a jot of difference.
I would like to see people charged the cost to the RNLI if they get into trouble necessitating their rescue, through their own stupidity! Send them a Bill, that should make them think a bit before getting into trouble!
Unfortunately people dont seem to have common sense nowdays or a sense of danger , they substitue it with google , if google says its safe to do something , it must be !
its certainly got worst since covid too .
the stupidity of people knows no bounds
Bring back Joe & Petunia.
You have to be of a certain age….