Warning after 3,412 beach users put themselves at risk
MORE than 3,000 people have put themselves at risk of being cut off by Cleethorpes' turbulent tide this year.
The shocking figure was revealed as the resort's Beach Safety Team urged fun-seeking visitors to stay safe this summer.
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safety first: Resort manager Rob Chalmers with wrists bands for children which parents can write their number on for emergencies.
Since January, the team has stopped a massive 1,620 people venturing too far out along the Central Promenade and 1,792 people venturing out from the Humberstone Fitties.
Of these scary statistics, 83 per cent have been since April - the start of the resort's busiest season.
The Beach Safety Team works 365 days a year patrolling the resort to prevent risks turning into emergencies. People who venture out too far from the shore put themselves at huge risk of being cut off by the tide.
Resort manager, Rob Chalmers said: "We are quite unique, because we are on an estuary the tide goes out 1.5 miles and there is always that danger of becoming cut off.
"We just want people to come here and be sensible, use a common sense approach when they are at the seaside and take precautions.
"For us, the biggest threat here is the tide, the dangerous sand banks and the fast incoming tide.
"People could be walking out from the shore, they look around and they are surrounded by water and cut off. We want people to avoid getting into that situation."
Along with cut offs, the team also deal with lost children, sun protection, first aid and even jelly fish stings.
Rob continued: "We just want people to be safe, have a good time and enjoy visiting Cleethorpes. For us it is making sure people enjoy the beach experience. We probably get more lost children than cut offs but in the height of the summer we could deal with anything."
Pop into the Beach Safety Centre along the Central Promenade and pick up free copies of tide timetables.
There are also free wristbands for children to help them if they get lost and first aid trained staff.
See today's Grimsby Telegraph for the Beach Safety Team's Top 10 summer safety tips.
12 Comments
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by neil murphy, bulgaria
Monday, July 26 2010, 6:40AM
“Lets not forget, Cleethorpes, is on one of the most dangerous estuaries in Europe, so the Beach safety team have there work cut out for them.”
by Liam, clee
Sunday, July 25 2010, 3:02PM
“I agree 100% with neil in Bulgaria.
The Beacch Safety Team have THE Best record in the country. They generally go about their duties quietly, not seeking publicity or recogniition, they are a unique service witha huge variety of duties not least of which is the beach patrol during tides. NO accidental deaths have occurred at cleethorpes beach during there duty times. Along with the dedicated crew of the RNLI and the Coadtguard team, they help to make what is one of the most dangerous areas a little safer.”
by Shane, here
Sunday, July 25 2010, 9:34AM
“I would question the validity of the numbers as it seems to me, everyone the team has contact with is counted as a 'saved' person.
As a regular beach user, I have been approached when out shrimping and also when out walking the low water mark and warned about the risks...sometimes in a manner I would describe which bordered on aggressive.
I have no doubt that a lot of those contacted were ignorant of the area and indeed can be counted in the statistics but i will wager that a lot more were just needless figure massaging contacts.
The team do carry out a good job in general and I am not knocking them for that but lets get real with the figures.”
by Sam, clee
Sunday, July 25 2010, 9:13AM
“Yes Ronnie, you sound like a prime candidate for the Darwin Awards.”
by ronnie, laceby
Saturday, July 24 2010, 7:59PM
“DARWINSISM”
by Stroller, Grimsby
Saturday, July 24 2010, 5:32PM
“It's reassuring to see the beach safety team going about their regular business and they are to be applauded. There'll always be mishaps and scares associated with this benign looking but extremely dangerous bit of coastline. I haven't been, but to my shame have been close to becoming cut off on a couple of occasions and I had been looking out for such a possibility. There are places where you can think that your vision is adequate but the depression for the tide to run into becomes hidden and then it can run silently behind and catch anyone out and not just the unwary.
I doubt there's little more that can be done because people in their excitement don't always see notices let alone heed them and 3412 people being stopped from venturing too far out is testimony to the quality of service provided.”
by Richard, Grimsby
Saturday, July 24 2010, 5:30PM
“Ronnie
It was only three months ago when
a woman and her dog was airlifted to safety, after being cut off by the tide
near the humber yacht club
without their aid she would not be with us now.
better to save lives than lose them
Well done beach safety team”
by stef, in bed in clee
Saturday, July 24 2010, 3:34PM
“yes ronnie , do some research. every local person i know has heard about the horse rider incident and i don`t expect anyone wishes for anything like that to happen again”
by neil murphy, bulgaria
Saturday, July 24 2010, 3:15PM
“ronnie, laceby, just do the research you will find lots of kids, and adults have lost their lives at cleethorpes, the most infamous case are the horse riders that drowned after getting caught up in sea mist, couldent find there way back, tradgedy.All these accidents happened before cleethorpes had a fully professional beach safety team.Plus years ago kids listened to their parents, not today though,the kids get looked after by the neach safety team, mam and dad are probably in the pub , or sunning themselves,, Cleethorpes Beach Safety Team, the best in the country, no deaths in 25- 30 odd years, thankyou.”
by ronnie, laceby
Saturday, July 24 2010, 11:29AM
“me again-how many people died on the beach before these ''teams'' were created?”