Yarmouth Coastguard Alerted to Three Children Drifting Offshore

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Posted 13:59 GMT

At 11.30 this morning Yarmouth Coastguard was alerted to two or more children on an inflatable toy dinghy being blown offshore at Cley, North Norfolk.

The dinghy was then reported to have over-turned with children in the water. Sheringham RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, Wells RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, Cley Coastguard Rescue Team and Rescue Helicopter 125 from Wattisham were called. Further reports received from the scene indicated that person or persons had entered the water to assist the children who were being blown further away from the shore.

The swimmers, one described as a cross Channel swimmer, managed to rescue the 3 children and bring them safely ashore as the Sheringham Lifeboat and Cley Coastguard arrived in the area. The children were aged between 8 and 10 and were not from the local area.

Watch Manager Mario Siano said

This incident again highlights the dangers of using inflatable toys from the beach. The wind is blowing from the South today and Yarmouth Coastguard had issued an offshore wind warning to local holiday camps and radio stations earlier in the day. The wind is not particularly strong today at only about force 3, but it can still blow an inflatable to danger very quickly. We strongly urge beach-goers not to use inflatables at the seaside.

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401