Up to 20 teenagers were rescued from turbulent waters off the coast of Lancashire on Friday evening after getting into difficulty in rough seas. HM Coastguard confirmed the emergency operation took place in Fleetwood, with the youngsters stranded a significant distance from the sea wall.
Tethered Snatch Rescue
During the demanding operation, a coastguard rescue officer waded into the water to perform a tethered snatch rescue, pulling two children to safety. A throw bag was deployed to rescue a third teenager. Three of the youngsters required hospital treatment after ingesting seawater, while the rest managed to return to shore safely.
Social Media Account
HM Coastguard Fleetwood shared details on social media: "Last night, whilst out on patrol, one of our Coastguard Rescue Officers spotted a number of children in the sea a significant distance out from the sea wall and in difficulty at Bispham. We immediately made our way to the area and found around 15–20 teenagers in the sea. Whilst some were already managing to get themselves out of the water, several were still clearly struggling."
"One of our Coastguard Rescue Officers entered the water and carried out a tethered snatch rescue, bringing back two casualties before then using a throw bag to bring another safely back to the steps. With choppy waves breaking against the sea defences, this was a challenging rescue. It was clear the group had been caught out by the rough sea and strong tidal currents, making it far more dangerous than they had anticipated."
Hospital Treatment and Previous Incident
Three teenagers were taken to hospital for further checks after ingesting seawater, and the water rescuer was also assessed by a paramedic as a precaution. Notably, the coastguard had been called to the same location at almost the same time the day before for concerns about teenagers in the sea, but on that occasion they were in shallow, calm water and behaving sensibly.
The coastguard statement highlighted the rapid change in sea conditions: "What a difference a day makes. The sea can change incredibly quickly. Conditions that appear safe one day can become extremely hazardous the next, and it doesn't take much for someone to get into serious difficulty."
Safety Warnings
Only two weeks prior, the coastguard had delivered a water safety presentation to all year groups at Fleetwood High School, and other local schools had received similar visits. The statement concluded: "We sincerely hope those important safety messages are being listened to... We're pleased that everyone was brought safely ashore, and we hope those involved have gone home with a greater appreciation of just how unforgiving the sea can be."
The coastguard also noted a previous rescue with a less positive outcome: "The last time we conducted such a rescue only a few weeks ago the outcome was much less positive with one life lost and another severely ill." They urged the public to respect sea conditions, be aware of tides and currents, and remember that the sea does not always give a second chance.
