Safety warning as seas claim six lives in UK
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Safety warning as seas claim six lives in UK

Yachting Boating World: The UK Coastguard has issued a safety warning after six people died in rough seas around Britain over the weekend.

 

Water users around the UK are being warned to be aware of changeable weather and the warnings of lifeguards after six people died in rough seas over the weekend.

Three men, two women and a six-year-old boy were killed in Cornwall, Essex, Dorset, Jersey and Aberdeen.

The Met Office had issued a yellow ‘be aware’ warning on 19 August. Gusts of up to 60mph were forecast for exposed coastlines in the south and west.

The strong winds and large waves also coincided with a period of spring tides over the weekend.

The UK Coastguard urged everyone to be careful around surging waves.

“Stay away from areas where surging waves could sweep you off your feet, or hit rocks and cause a huge amount of spray,” it advised.

“Be careful of tides; it’s easy to become cut off and strong wind conditions will mean that the sea will reach higher levels than expected. Heed warnings from lifeguards,” it added.

James Instance for the UK Coastguard issued this warning.

“What should be an enjoyable experience could so easily take a traumatic turn, so please do listen to warnings and stay at a safe distance from the water,” he stressed.

The first casualty of the weekend happened on 19 August at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall.

Rudy and Lisinda Bruynius and their three children were knocked off rocks and washed into the sea.

The couple’s two sons managed to scramble back on to rocks. RNLI lifeguards rescued Mrs Bruynius using their jetski.

Her husband and their two-year-old daughter was rescued by the Newquay lifeboat. Mr Bruyunius later died in hospital.

On 20 August, a windsurfer in his 60s died after getting into difficulties off West Mercia, Essex.

Dan Baker, who was described by friends as an experienced windsurfer, was airlifted to hospital at just after midday but later died.

Just hours later, a man got into difficulty while swimming outside the safe swim area at Sandbanks beach in Poole, Dorset.

He was rescued from the water by lifeguards, who performed CPR. The crew of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and paramedics also attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later on Saturday afternoon, two brothers were paddling in the sea off Aberdeen when they were swept out.

Their mother, 37-year-old Julie Walker, along with others, tried to rescue the children. All of them needed rescuing. Both Walker and her six-year-old son, Lucas died.

Walker’s 13-year-old son, Samuel is recovering in hospital. A man and a woman also received medical treatment.

On Saturday evening, a female swimmer was recovered from rough seas off Jersey. Joy Godfray, 31, later died in hospital.

She had been swimming near Green Island beach with a male companion, who was rescued by a member of the public.

See article at Yachting Boating World

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