A dad from Liverpool has spoken out about a paddleboarding trip on the Isle of Wight that went very very wrong, ending with him and his family having to be winched up a cliff by the Coastguard.
John Underwood had taken his children – Ethan (15), Gracie (13), Heidi (12) and Lottie (7) – and their dog for their first-ever trip to the Isle of Wight, with fantasies of the perfect water-based Spring bank holiday weekend. But the 37-year-old’s break away almost turned into a nightmare when he and all 4 children had to call for help from Her Majesty’s Coastguard.
It was on 30th May this year that Coastguard Rescue Teams were called into action when the 5 family members got into difficulty, alongside 3 others.
The family had decided to try paddleboarding at Freshwater Bay and after ensuring they were properly kitted out with buoyancy aids, leashes and a fully charged mobile phone, they set off to make their way around to Watcombe Bay. On the beach at Watcombe Bay they settled down for an hour or so.
But the landscape and conditions changed in that time, so subtly that none of them even noticed, until they tried to leave again.
Taking up the story, John explains:
“It all seemed fine when we got to the beach and the app said we would be fine. I got distracted talking to a guy and by lunchtime when we wanted to head back, the swell was too much and the waves seemed so big. They were not the same waves we came in with.
Article continues below this advertisement “But we still thought we could get off the beach, I was on edge and really worried that the beach was going to get swallowed up – the app said it was going to be the highest tide of the month or something so I felt very worried, I had my kids with me.”
He said the family then repeatedly tried to get past the breaking waves, with his 2 older children eventually succeeding while his youngest 2 continued to struggle:
“My seven-year-old was really finding it tough. A massive wave came and swept my daughter off the board and right over my head – she disappeared under water for what felt like forever, before finally surfacing.
“It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. But also the moment that I realised we were out of our depth and needed help. So we decided we needed the coastguard then.
“We got lucky. I could have lost one or more of my children that day.”
Coastguard Rescue Teams from The Needles and Ventnor were mobilised, alongside Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat and the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat. 3 others, an adult and 2 children, were also stuck on the beach alongside John’s family and in need of help.
Due to the size of the waves, the lifeboats were unable to get to shore and the decision was taken that a rope rescue was the safest way to rescue the 8 casualties – and John’s dog.
Andrew Woodford, Deputy Station Officer at Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team, was on hand that day to help. He said that the rescue was complex and technical and utilised the full experience of the teams. Andrew says:
“To me, being available to help people and support them at the coast is what we commit to 24/7 and we train hard to ensure a professional safe rescue is always carried out.
“Rope rescue is demanding for rescue teams – it involves going to risky cliff areas, but with the high level of kit we carry we can deploy safely in rescue circumstances. It is arguably the most complex technical rescue procedure carried out by the coastguard rescue service.
“Regardless of why people are in difficulty, the fact that they are means they need people like us to bring them to safety. On this occasion it is clear the dad did everything right and shows how an early 999 call is essential to a timely response.”
John had a few final thoughts on the experience.
“I tried to do everything right. I’m careful and understand why the warnings are there, we were all wearing lifejackets and I’d downloaded an app on my phone for tide times and checked them too. But I took my eye off the sea for an hour and it all changed.
“With hindsight I should have waited for the tide to drop but it was still the right decision to call for help in the moment, I only know the beach didn’t disappear because I saw it.
“It was embarrassing though. I’m not stupid and I am careful, especially with my kids, and the teams were so good about making me feel less embarrassed. They were brilliant. They even brought up all of our belongings and the dog too.
“It was a bit scary being winched up a cliff but when we were all back at the top, I felt huge relief. If it weren’t for the coastguard and RNLI that day, it’s scary to think what decision I might have made.
“I guess it’s fair to say my first experience of paddleboarding is going to be my last.”
If you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea, or if you spot what you think may be unexploded ordnance, then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Further safety information can be found at https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk/.
Get help faster by giving emergency services your exact location by using ///what3words.
what3words have divided the world into 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words, which means when you are in a remote area of the Isle of Wight you can get assistance much quicker without the need for local knowledge.
