A significant safety advisory has been released following a series of severe incidents along various sections of the British coastline.
The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) is urging the public to exercise extreme caution in the upcoming days as large waves are expected to impact the shoreline.
The TVLB has cautioned that powerful rip currents will present a notable risk on several beaches in North Tyneside, leading the charity to issue an urgent water safety warning. According to Chronicle Live, the organization emphasized the importance of staying vigilant.
In a social media announcement, a representative of the charity mentioned recent incidents where individuals faced near-drowning situations due to rip currents. They also highlighted a tragic drowning incident at Longsands beach involving a non-swimmer being swept out to sea.
The TVLB has pointed out that on December 29, @surfline_uk predicts a wave period of around 13 seconds in the morning, underscoring the need for careful assessment before entering the water, especially for sea enthusiasts and swimmers.
For individuals caught in rip currents, the recommendation is to try swimming parallel to the shore to escape. If this proves challenging, the advice is to ‘float to live’ and call for help.
To address water safety concerns, the TVLB will conduct an open water safety clinic on Saturday, January 3rd, at King Edwards Bay from sunrise. The public is encouraged to attend and seek guidance. In case of witnessing someone in distress in the water, it is advised to refrain from attempting a rescue and instead call 999 to request assistance from the Coastguard.