Dunster Beach rescue: Mother saves two children from sea
Rev Kingdon said the group were heading home at around 16:30 BST when the children began "nagging" her to go swimming. "They know the rules," she said. "They know not to go in very far, they know it's dangerous. "They were waist deep, jumping around and playing, and as I was watching them they suddenly disappeared out of view. "I've never known a current like it. It was really, really strange."I could just see their two heads bobbing up and down, and I'm screaming but they're too far away to hear me."
A passer-by leapt into action, diving in after the children while the emergency services were called.Crews from Minehead RNLI Lifeboat Station, the coastguard and the ambulance service were immediately dispatched.As lifeguards went to the neighbouring Blue Anchor beach by mistake, Rev Kingdon said she felt she could not wait any longer. She waded through the choppy water to reach her daughter, turning only to see her fellow rescuer clambering back to shore. "That poor man had to take the agonising decision to save himself," she told BBC Radio Somerset."The waves were too strong."
'It was a fight'
Rev Kingdom managed to bring both children back to shore, where paramedics transported them to Musgrove Park Hospital for observation."Even when we think we are being responsible and respectful of the sea, in a flash, things can go wrong," she said. "It was a fight and the sea was determined to take us out further."Minehead RNLI said it sent two lifeboats to the area having heard two children were in trouble in the water."A bystander had bravely rescued the casualties, and all three required assessment for water inhalation," a statement added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
a few seconds ago
- South Wales Argus
What is the Float to Live technique? When to use it
The reminder comes ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day which takes place this week. More than 40 representatives from different organisations created a circle of life in the North Sea at Cullercoats Bay, North Tyneside, to demonstrate how people can avoid drowning if they get into difficulty in water. Everyone should know how to #FloatToLive. Thank you to our friends at @BDA_Deaf for supporting us 💙 Save and share our steps in the thread below 👇 Remember it. Practise it. Share it. #RNLI #WaterSafety #BeachSafety #RespectTheWater — RNLI (@RNLI) July 22, 2025 What is the Float to Live technique and how do you do it? The Float to Live technique is championed by the RNLI and others and it advises: Tilt your head back (submerging your ears) Relax (and control your breathing) Move your hands and legs (to help keep you afloat) Your legs may sink – that is okay (everyone floats differently) Practise floating (at a supervised location like a swimming pool) What is cold water shock and when does it happen? The RNLI has shared lots of water safety advice and information on its website. Explaining cold water shock, it said: 'When in cold water (anything below 15°C), your body can go into cold water shock. If this happens, you lose control of your breathing and movement. 'Cold water shock also causes your heart rate and blood pressure to quickly increase, which can lead to cardiac arrest. 'The average sea temperature around the UK and Ireland is just 12°C. Inland waters like lakes, rivers, lochs and reservoirs can be colder - even in the summer. 'Remember, if you find yourself in difficulty in the water, Float to Live.' Steve Thomas, head of prevention and education at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'With the school summer holidays under way and continued warm weather, we know more people will be heading to the coast, rivers, and lakes to cool off and enjoy the water. 'Whether it's a day at the beach or a family break involving water-based activities, it's vital that everyone understands the risks. 'As a fire and rescue service, we're urging the public to be water aware. What starts as fun can quickly turn dangerous without the right knowledge. 'The Float to Live campaign provides simple, life-saving advice that can make all the difference in an emergency.' Nick Ayers, RNLI regional water safety lead, said: 'The Circle of Life event at Cullercoats Bay was a powerful visual reminder of the importance of water safety and partnership working. 'Seeing over 40 individuals coming together to promote floating shows just how committed we all are to reducing drowning. 'Float to Live is a simple but effective technique that gives people the best chance of surviving if they get into trouble in the water. 'When panic sets in, floating helps you to regain control, catch your breath and stay calm until help arrives or you can self-rescue.' When is World Drowning Prevention Day 2025? World Drowning Prevention Day will take place on Friday, July 25. Recommended reading: Jo Talbot, a director at the Royal Life Saving Society UK, said: 'A disproportionate number of people drown in the UK between May and August, and we see an increased number of drownings in periods of extreme heat. 'With the warmer weather and summer school holidays beginning, it is vital that everybody is aware of how to stay water smart and safe this summer. 'World Drowning Prevention Day serves as an important reminder to everyone to equip themselves with the tools and knowledge to stay safe around water.'
Times
22 minutes ago
- Times
Three dead and dozens hurt after train derails in German forest
At least three people were killed and dozens seriously injured when a passenger train derailed in southern Germany on Sunday evening. The cause of the crash near Riedlingen in Baden-Württemberg is being investigated after two carriages carrying about 100 passengers slid off the track. Video footage from the scene of the accident showed rescue teams working by the trackside in a steep forested area to get people out as screams could be heard. 'We mourn the victims. I express my condolences to their families,' said Friedrich Merz, the chancellor, on X, adding: 'The train accident in the Biberach district dismays me. I am in close contact with the minister of the interior and the minister of transport and have asked them to support the rescue services with all means at their disposal.' Emergency workers and six air ambulance helicopters were sent to the scene, where 34 people were injured. Photographs showed trees torn up and a broken axle on one of the carriages that had turned on its side. The Regional Express 55 travelling from Sigmaringen to Ulm derailed at 6.10pm near Riedlingen, about 28 miles southeast of Ulm. There had been a thunderstorm and heavy rain in the area and photos showed what appeared to be parts of the embankment sliding into the track bed, covering the rails in mud. According to the weather service, severe thunderstorms swept across the region in the early evening with heavy rainfall. Initial findings by police, according to the Schwäbische Zeitung newspaper, suggested that the landslide was responsible for the accident. The front of the train was catapulted 5m up the slope of the embankment and crashed into trees.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Four dead and eight missing after torrential rain causes landslide in northern China
Four people died and eight were missing after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck Luanping in northern China 's Hebei province, CCTV reported on Monday. Rescue efforts were underway, the state broadcaster said. The landslide followed an intense overnight downpour in Fuping, a county in the industrial city of Baoding, where rainfall reached a record 145mm per hour. Torrential rainfall intensified across Beijing and surrounding provinces in northern China on Monday, heightening the threat of floods and landslides and prompting the evacuation of over 4,400 residents, authorities said. Last week, Typhoon Wipha wreaked havoc across China, killing dozens of people, uprooting trees, causing landslides, and leaving thousands without power. Wipha battered cities such as Yangjiang, Zhanjiang and Maoming with winds of over 118kmph and torrential rain before making landfall in southern Guangdong province last Sunday. In Beijing 's Miyun district, relentless downpours triggered flash floods, impacting several villages, CCTV said on Monday. Images shared on China 's WeChat platform showed vehicles drifting along submerged roads, with floodwaters rising high enough to partially engulf residential buildings. Hebei is facing some of its heaviest and most devastating rainfall in recent years, setting off deadly landslides, flash floods, and large-scale evacuations. Relentless rains began sweeping through Hebei, Tianjin, and Shanxi in northern China in early July, triggering widespread flood warnings. But it is the latter half of the month that has seen the worst of the deluge. Power outages have impacted over 10,000 residents in the region, according to CCTV. Northern China in general has faced unprecedented rainfall in recent years, placing densely populated areas like Beijing at heightened risk of flooding. Some researchers attribute this surge in rainfall, especially in the typically arid north, to the effects of global warming. The recent storms form part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events linked to the East Asian monsoon, which continues to disrupt daily life and economic activity across the world's second-largest economy. Among the hardest hit areas from the latest rainfall was Xiwanzi Village in Shicheng town, near the Miyun reservoir, where authorities relocated more than 100 villagers to a local primary school for shelter, authorities said on Monday. Authorities in Beijing reported the Miyun reservoir had reached an unprecedented inflow peak of 6,550 cubic metres per second, the highest on record. Meanwhile, the neighbouring province of Shanxi experienced severe flooding, with state media footage showing powerful torrents sweeping across roads and submerging fields, trees and crops. In Beijing 's Pinggu district, two sections of a road deemed high-risk were closed off as a precaution. Emergency crews have been deployed in several cities for rescue operations, including in Datong, where contact was lost with a motorist caught in the floods while driving a Ford, according to the People's Daily. China's water resources ministry has issued targeted flood alerts for 11 provinces and regions, among them Beijing and Hebei, warning of the potential for flash floods from smaller rivers and mountainous runoff. In response to the crisis, authorities have announced an emergency relief fund to assist Hebei with infrastructure repairs. The money will go towards rebuilding damaged roads, bridges, embankments, and public facilities like schools and hospitals. In July last year, China's seasonal 'plum rains' – so named for their timing with the ripening of plums – inflicted over $10bn in economic damage.
