Latest news with #Norfolk
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Why do people get cut off by the tide at Wells-next-the-Sea?
A lifeboat service said it has rescued more people cut off by the tide in the past six months than it has in the past seven years. Last week it was called out after 40 people were cut off at two locations on the Norfolk coastline in the space of two hours. Why is the tide so dangerous and what can you do if you get stranded? With heatwaves arriving, the RNLI crew at Wells-next-the-Sea, in Norfolk, has seen hoards of people visit the beach early in the summer season. Despite signs and sirens at the beach, Mandy Humphreys, the water safety officer at Wells RNLI, said a lot of people have a lack of knowledge about the tides. Impact of a changing seabed Ms Humphreys said the contours of the seabed were "always changing" which leads to people being cut off by the tide, even if they have visited that beach before."This is a natural phenomenon. The seabed in this area is very sandy."Unfortunately, over the last couple of years a sandbar has been forming and gradually growing, which runs parallel to Wells beach. The drain that separates it from the rest of the beach is getting deeper." A sandbar is a submerged area of sand or sediment which is formed by waves and currents offshore from a one formed at Wells is said to have one steep side and the other having a shallow Humphreys said she has been involved in rescues where people did not realise they had been cut off. "The beach is very alluring. It's absolutely beautiful... there are a significant number of people that we rescue that don't understand the basics about tides." Tides and times vary Tide times and heights vary throughout the year and can be affected by a number of factors, including the spring equinox, which Ms Humphreys said brings bigger tides than people added that rising sea levels also have an impact and the RNLI can be called out all year round by people cut off by the tide.A tidal surge in March made a "big tide even bigger" and left three people stranded on an area of marshland north of Stiffkey were found "waist deep in water" in an area where the RNLI has not had to rescue people before. Even locals are vulnerable It is not just beachgoers who have found themselves in troubled waters. As the seabed and sand is ever changing, people living locally and those who have visited the beach on multiple occasions can never be sure of the conditions. As one of the hotspots where people become stranded, the RNLI was first alerted to the sandbar at the beach after a group of local residents became unknowingly her time with the RNLI Ms Humphreys has taken part in a simulation of what it is like to be stranded on a sandbar, and despite wearing a life jacket and having a crew near by she said she was left feeling "incredibly vulnerable".She added: "I've helped rescue people from that sandbar and being stood on that sandbar myself... I still felt quite vulnerable and the urge to wade back to safety is a very strong one, I really understand that now." Be aware of the dangers Ms Humphreys said people visiting the beach often have a lower perception of danger when on far this year 43 people have been rescued by the Wells crew after being stranded, with 34 of them at Wells beach."I've been on rescues where we have gone out... the water has been up to my thigh, and then sometimes if there are dogs or children that are frightened it takes some minutes to get them in, and then it [the water] is up to my waist."Having worked with Wells RNLI for the past seven years, Ms Humphreys said it can take crew members up to 10 minutes to get to an incident after being paged. One of the worst things is they do not always know the exact details of the incident they are going out to."The Stiffkey shout, where we had three shouts on Mothering Sunday, we knew they were up to their waists in water… as a crew member that puts the fear of God into me. Every second really does matter."That's real pressure. So we encourage people that if they are cut off, the earlier they can tell us, the longer we have to get there before they are up to their waists in water." What to do in an emergency If you are stranded at the beach, the RNLI urges people to call 999 for help and use what3words to help the service locate is advised people get back to dry sand at least four hours before high tide. Ms Humphreys said: "If they sit tight and wait for the lifeboat to get there, that's the safest thing to do."For Wells station in particular, we know from the description where they are." Even though people may want to wade through the water, the steep side of the sandbar means people can find themselves in deep water "quicker than expected". "It's not the people who call 999 that worry me so much, it's the people who wade back to safety themselves. We get reports of parents holding children above their heads and I worry that if someone loses their footing, you then have a youngster and an adult in the water." The RNLI's Float to Live campaign advises people that if they find themselves in difficulty they should tilt their head back in the water, try to breath normally, and move their arms and legs to help stay afloat. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Driver who inspired F1 film touched by Brad Pitt thanks
A man who was in a crash that inspired a Brad Pitt movie said it was a "pinch yourself moment" when the actor thanked him for sharing his story. Formula 1 driver Martin Donnelly, who lives in Norfolk, suffered serious injuries in a crash in Jerez, Spain, in at the premiere of F1 in London, Pitt thanked him for "putting his energy and guidance" into the new movie."It was just a pinch yourself moment," Mr Donnelly said. "I said 'is he talking to me, is he referring to me'. It is one of those memories I will cherish for life." Mr Donnelly was driving a Lotus Lamborghini which disintegrated against a barrier in a high-speed suffered damage to his right leg which meant he could never compete in a top-end single seater car accident influenced the story line of the new film, seeing Pitt's character Sonny Hayes return to the wheel after he was in a 61-year-old actor undertook four months of driver training in Abu Dhabi as well as Silverstone and Rockingham in Northamptonshire. Talking about watching the accident in the film, Donnelly told the BBC: "It was such a surreal moment. It was something only I could appreciate."After one of the operations the surgeon said, 'that is it - you will never drive an F1 car again'."But he does not know the mind of a racing driver. We are stubborn and determined and selfish."On 23 February 1993 I drove a Jordan car around Silverstone and that was me giving my surgeons the pledge to say you know your books, but you do not know me, and here I am." Speaking about meeting Pitt, Mr Donnelly added: "It was just a surreal moment."A highly rated A-List star like Brad Pitt asking me for advice and direction."Mr Donnelly still works with Lotus and runs his own driving Manwaring, former team manager for Lotus, said: "He just had all of the right ingredients to be a good driver."It was pretty clear to me that he was going to be a real star."I think it has been a good thing for Martin and we were happy to support him." Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Norfolk or BBC Northamptonshire.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Boy's sea rescue captured on live TV report
TV viewers were given a stark reminder of the dangers of the sea when a boy became stranded live on air. BBC journalist Debbie Tubby was reporting from Wells-next-the-Sea when cameras captured the 13-year-old getting cut-off on Friday. People watching Look East were able to look on in real time as the beach-goer was loaded on to a lifeboat. Presenter Susie Fowler-Watt said the incident had a "happy ending" as the boy was brought ashore. It happened shortly after the regional news show started airing at 18:30 BST. The BBC was broadcasting live from the popular beach after 40 people were cut-off by the tide within two hours the previous weekend. Almost three minutes into the report, cameras cut to show the boy sitting on sand while surrounded by water. Watch: BBC Look East "You might be able to see a boy who's actually stuck on the sand bar out several metres away from me," said Tubby, live on air. "The RNLI has been launched to try and get him so hopefully we'll get him back safe and sound." The programme continued with other reports before returning to Tubby about nine minutes later. Footage showed the sand had all-but-disappeared and the boy was being helped by an RNLI crew. Speaking from the studio in Norwich, presenter Fowler-Watt said: "This is what we were talking about earlier, how precarious it can become very quickly. "Luckily, the RNLI has reached the boy and he looks like he's safely on the boat there, so a happy ending in that particular scenario." The boy's mother later told Tubby she was grateful for the help he received, but admitted he should be "slightly embarrassed". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Forty people rescued in a day despite tide warning Beachgoers warned of 'incredibly hazardous' tides Beachgoers urged to check tide times after rescues RNLI
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
BBC TV report captures sea rescue live from beach in Norfolk
TV viewers were given a stark reminder of the dangers of the sea when a boy became stranded live on journalist Debbie Tubby was reporting from Wells-next-the-Sea when cameras captured the 13-year-old getting cut-off on watching Look East were able to look on in real time as the beach-goer was loaded on to a Susie Fowler-Watt said the incident had a "happy ending" as the boy was brought ashore. It happened shortly after the regional news show started airing at 18:30 BBC was broadcasting live from the popular beach after 40 people were cut-off by the tide within two hours the previous weekend. Almost three minutes into the report, cameras cut to show the boy sitting on sand while surrounded by water."You might be able to see a boy who's actually stuck on the sand bar out several metres away from me," said Tubby, live on air."The RNLI has been launched to try and get him so hopefully we'll get him back safe and sound." 'Slightly embarrassed' The programme continued with other reports before returning to Tubby about nine minutes showed the sand had all-but-disappeared and the boy was being helped by an RNLI crew. Speaking from the studio in Norwich, presenter Fowler-Watt said: "This is what we were talking about earlier, how precarious it can become very quickly."Luckily, the RNLI has reached the boy and he looks like he's safely on the boat there, so a happy ending in that particular scenario."The boy's mother later told Tubby she was grateful for the help he received, but admitted he should be "slightly embarrassed". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Job fears as Lotus plots UK closure of sports car plant
Lotus is reportedly planning to end production of its sports cars in the UK, putting 1,300 jobs at its Norfolk plant at risk. In another bruising setback for Britain's auto industry, the group is considering moving the manufacturing of its Emira model from its factory in Hethel to the US. The company, which is owned by Chinese car-maker Geely, could permanently stop production at the site as soon as next year, according to the Financial Times. Meanwhile, figures published yesterday showed UK car production last month slumped to its lowest level since 1949. Britain's high-end car-makers have been battered by Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on the industry – though a trade deal reducing this to 10 per cent is expected to come into force on Monday. No final decision has been made over the future of the Hethel plant, which was opened in 1966 and received a £100m upgrade in 2022. Workers at the site have not been told anything about a potential closure. A Lotus spokesman said: 'This is a rumour. We don't comment on speculation.' The car-maker paused its production in mid-May in order to manage its stock levels due to Trump's tariffs. But it is expected to begin making cars again in Norfolk within four weeks. British car engineer Colin Chapman founded Lotus in 1948, and it was ultimately taken over in 2017 by Geely – owned by the billionaire Li Shufu. The closure will be another industry setback after Vauxhall owner Stellantis closed its Luton van factory, employing 1,100 workers, earlier this year. Major car-makers such as Honda – which shut its plant in Swindon in 2021 after 36 years of production – have exited the UK. Ford also closed its Bridgend engine plant in September 2020, and a Southampton van plant earlier in July 2013. Car production declined by 31.5 per cent last month, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The likes of Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover have had to halt shipments to the US following Trump's tariffs. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said 2025 had 'proved to be an incredibly challenging year for UK automotive production'.
