PEOPLE are being warned to ’keep out of the water’ in Cornwall today with dangerous conditions forecast.
The RNLI’s Steve Instance, who is the charity’s water safety lead and a lifeguard, said: ’Today’s swell forecast is very worrying for the North coast of Devon and Cornwall. A normal morning surf will build to over 15 feet in a couple of hours. Combined with incoming spring tide and no lifeguards, this could be a recipe for disaster.
’Keep out of the water on Fri afternoon please.’
Surfing magazine Carve spoke to its readers with a plea for beginners to stay out of the surf – and for experienced surfers to offer safety advice.
With no lifeguards currently on patrol at popular beaches such as Bude, Widemouth, Polzeath and Whitsand Bay, volunteers are stepping in where they can.
There have been at least two rescues on Cornwall’s beaches in the last two days by off-duty lifeaguards who happened to spot people getting into trouble.
A spokesperson for Carve said :’Community groups are trying to fill gaps with observation and advisory patrols but obviously this is not a great situation so we need the help of the surfing community to keep an eye out for potential victims of tidal surges, rips and people getting out of their depths.
’If experienced surfers or ex lifeguards can offer advice where needed it will save lives in this challenging period. Coastguards and lifeboats are on standby, but as we all know prevention is best.
’If you are a beginner please do not surf during this time. Intermediates – do not surf alone, please stay within your capabilities. Experienced surfers please offer safety advice where needed.’
The swell is set to create larger than usual waves on Cornwall’s south coast too, and RNLI lifeguards in South East Cornwall have put out the following message:
’If you’re heading to Whitsand Bay or Seaton stay safe: check the weather and tides, supervise children at all times and don’t use inflatables. In an emergency, call 999 for the Coastguard
’Now is not the time to learn a new water sport, please refrain from the temptation
’Especially at Whitsand Bay be aware of rip currents (typically identifiable as areas where the waves are not breaking or channels of churning, choppy water on the sea’s surface) and getting cut of by the tide.’
Plymouth’s inshore lifeboat rescued six teenagers who had been cut off by the tide yesterday near Sharrow Point in Whitsand Bay. One of the young people had posted that they were trapped on social media – the message was spotted by a parent who rang for the Coastguard.