HM Coastguard are urging beach goers and boat users to take extra care as the hot weather continues following a spate of call outs for both the Island’s Coastguard Rescue Teams and lifeboats.
As reported by Island Echo, there have been over 15 different shouts for the Island’s seaside emergency services in the past week, involving everything from broken down vessels to children adrift at sea, boats with reported fires and a missing child.
Martin Groom, Station Officer with Bembridge Coastguard (who have been called out 7 times since Friday alone), has said:
“We want everyone to enjoy the Islands sea and beaches at this time of year, but ask parents to keep a close eye on where their children are as they can easily become separated on a busy beach whilst playing.
“Boat owners are also asked to make sure all their equipment is in good working order and to always carry life jackets, an anchor and either a VHF radio or at least a charged mobile phone when they go afloat and to also let someone on shore know their plans and what time they expect to be back .
“Simple precautions keep everyone safe and able to enjoy their time on or by the sea”.
Martin continued:
“This weekend has been one of the busiest for many years.
Article continues below this advertisement “It started at about 18:00 on Friday with a call to assist the ambulance service with a lady who had injured her back at Apply, closely followed by a broken down speedboat off of Seaview , then two children who got in to difficulty at East Cowes. Finally on Friday, we attended the incident at Wightlink with the collapse of the mezzanine deck on the car ferry St Helen.
“Saturday we had an overdue jet ski in Bembridge and on Sunday we were called to assist in a search for a missing girl off of the canoe lake in Ryde, closely followed by a young man who had dislocated both shoulders whilst using a inflatable doughnut ring off of Priory Bay in Seaview”.
Anyone spotting someone in distress, or if you are in distress yourself, should call the Coastguard immediately on 999.
