A dog walker and two dogs were rescued after being cut off by the incoming tide at New Brighton on Tuesday evening, July 14. The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team was conducting a training exercise at 8.26pm when they received multiple 999 calls reporting a person and two dogs stranded on North Bank.
Rescue amid heatwave crowds
The incident was one of several the coastguard and RNLI responded to on Tuesday, as a continuing heatwave drew large numbers of people to Wirral beaches. A Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team spokesman said: "The casualty had entered the water in an attempt to reach shore. Thankfully, members of the public signalled for them to remain on the sandbank, as deep, fast-flowing water had already surrounded the bank."
The RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat Station, also out on exercise nearby, attended the scene. The person and both dogs were picked up and brought ashore, where they were met by Coastguard rescue officers. Merseyside Police also attended after receiving calls from concerned members of the public.
Further incidents on the Wirral coast
Following the rescue, the coastguard received another report of two people cut off by the tide at Little Eye, West Kirby. The spokesman said: "On arrival the pair had almost reached shore after wading through waist deep water, guided only by the light from a mobile phone. Fortunately, both made it ashore safely. Coastguard rescue officers provided safety advice about local tides and RNLI West Kirby Lifeboat was stood down."
While in West Kirby, team members were approached by members of the public requesting help in searching for a missing person believed to be somewhere along the coast. The person's phone had died, and friends and family had been unable to make contact or locate them. Coastguard rescue officers met with the family and began gathering information, but the missing person was found safe and well before search teams could be deployed.
Finally, the officers were alerted to reports of "flashing torch lights" on Hilbre Island off the coast of West Kirby. West Kirby Lifeboat was launched to search the islands, but on arrival it was confirmed the lights belonged to a group camping on the island and there was no emergency. All units were then stood down.
Safety advice for beachgoers
People are advised to check tide times before heading to the coast, carry a means of calling for help, and if you see someone in difficulty, do not enter the water yourself – call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
