Latest news with #ripcurrent
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Mother and friend of teenage drowning victim urge people to stay safe in the sea
The mother and best friend of a teenager who drowned in a 'fierce' rip current on Bournemouth beach, which also killed a 12-year-old girl, have backed Coastguard advice to help people enjoy the sea safely this summer. Joe Abbess, from Southampton, Hampshire, and Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, drowned during the incident at the Dorset seaside resort on May 31 2023. Now, the mother of the 17-year-old trainee chef, Vanessa Abbess, has issued a warning that anyone could be caught out like her son, who was a regular gym-goer. She said: 'Joe was incredibly loved by his family and friends, and I feel it is so important to tell his story. He was being so sensible and safe. He was healthy. He was strong. He could swim. 'It is so shocking that Joe died and shows you're never entirely safe in the sea – but there are ways to reduce the risk, which we want everyone to know.' She added: 'Even two years on, the world doesn't feel quite right because there's a great big Joe-shaped hole in our lives. Joe is, and will always be, loved and very missed every day. 'We live on an island; people should know the dangers. You wouldn't cross the road without thinking about it – don't enter the sea without thinking about it. You need to think, what could happen? What do I do in an emergency? 'Joe was a very caring young man – he would want people to know what happened that tragic day. 'And if by telling his story I can prevent this heartbreak happening to another family, that has got to be a benefit, in a strange way, because it's absolutely awful to lose somebody you love like this.' His friend, Joe Green, 19, said: 'It 100% has affected my life. I mean, you just never think this would happen to your best friend. 'I miss him loads. Somehow, after more than two years, it still doesn't feel real. It still feels like he's going to come into my life whenever I turn a corner. 'I think he'd be very proud. I think he'd be very happy that I'm doing this for him, and his mum is doing this for him, because we just want to get the message across that this can happen to anyone.' The pair have backed safety tips issued by the Coastguard to choose a lifeguarded beach and to swim between the flags and to go into the sea with a buddy. They also advise that in a rip current to not struggle but instead 'float to live' by floating with head back and ears submerged. They also urge people to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see an emergency by the coast. James Instance, Coastguard divisional commander, said: 'Vanessa and Joe have shown real bravery in reliving their loss to highlight hidden risks at the beach and how you can stay safe. 'As we approach the summer holidays and our seaside gets busier, it's a perfect time to remind everyone of a few simple tips to ensure your fun trip ends with good memories.' Earlier this month, Darren Paffey, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, spoke in the Commons, calling on the Government to increase swimming safety in schools and highlighting that 150 children had lost their lives to drowning in the past three years. He said that just 74% of children leave school with the ability to swim 25 metres, and those from the most deprived areas are twice as likely to drown. Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin also wrote to the Education Secretary calling for better water safety for children following the inquests into the deaths of Joe and Sunnah. Responding to the debate in Parliament, education minister Catherine McKinnell said: 'Data from Sport England's active life survey reported in 2024 that 95.2% of state primary schools surveyed reported that they do provide swimming lessons, and we do want all pupils to have the opportunity to learn to swim.' She added: 'We are working to ensure that teaching pupils the water safety code at primary and secondary school will feature in our new RSHE (relationships, sex and health education) statutory guidance, which will be published shortly.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Mum and friend of teenage drowning victim urge people to stay safe in the sea
The mother and best friend of a teenager who drowned in a 'fierce' rip current on Bournemouth beach, which also killed a 12-year-old girl, have backed Coastguard advice to help people enjoy the sea safely this summer. Joe Abbess, from Southampton, Hampshire, and Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, drowned during the incident at the Dorset seaside resort on May 31 2023. Now, the mother of the 17-year-old trainee chef, Vanessa Abbess, has issued a warning that anyone could be caught out like her son, who was a regular gym-goer. She said: 'Joe was incredibly loved by his family and friends, and I feel it is so important to tell his story. He was being so sensible and safe. He was healthy. He was strong. He could swim. 'It is so shocking that Joe died and shows you're never entirely safe in the sea – but there are ways to reduce the risk, which we want everyone to know.' She added: 'Even two years on, the world doesn't feel quite right because there's a great big Joe-shaped hole in our lives. Joe is, and will always be, loved and very missed every day. 'We live on an island; people should know the dangers. You wouldn't cross the road without thinking about it – don't enter the sea without thinking about it. You need to think, what could happen? What do I do in an emergency? 'Joe was a very caring young man – he would want people to know what happened that tragic day. 'And if by telling his story I can prevent this heartbreak happening to another family, that has got to be a benefit, in a strange way, because it's absolutely awful to lose somebody you love like this.' His friend, Joe Green, 19, said: 'It 100% has affected my life. I mean, you just never think this would happen to your best friend. 'I miss him loads. Somehow, after more than two years, it still doesn't feel real. It still feels like he's going to come into my life whenever I turn a corner. 'I think he'd be very proud. I think he'd be very happy that I'm doing this for him, and his mum is doing this for him, because we just want to get the message across that this can happen to anyone.' The pair have backed safety tips issued by the Coastguard to choose a lifeguarded beach and to swim between the flags and to go into the sea with a buddy. They also advise that in a rip current to not struggle but instead 'float to live' by floating with head back and ears submerged. They also urge people to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see an emergency by the coast. James Instance, Coastguard divisional commander, said: 'Vanessa and Joe have shown real bravery in reliving their loss to highlight hidden risks at the beach and how you can stay safe. 'As we approach the summer holidays and our seaside gets busier, it's a perfect time to remind everyone of a few simple tips to ensure your fun trip ends with good memories.' Earlier this month, Darren Paffey, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, spoke in the Commons, calling on the Government to increase swimming safety in schools and highlighting that 150 children had lost their lives to drowning in the past three years. He said that just 74% of children leave school with the ability to swim 25 metres, and those from the most deprived areas are twice as likely to drown. Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin also wrote to the Education Secretary calling for better water safety for children following the inquests into the deaths of Joe and Sunnah. Responding to the debate in Parliament, education minister Catherine McKinnell said: 'Data from Sport England's active life survey reported in 2024 that 95.2% of state primary schools surveyed reported that they do provide swimming lessons, and we do want all pupils to have the opportunity to learn to swim.' She added: 'We are working to ensure that teaching pupils the water safety code at primary and secondary school will feature in our new RSHE (relationships, sex and health education) statutory guidance, which will be published shortly.'
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
North East stories you may have missed this week
A emotional reunion after a pet parrot went missing, two brothers who got caught in a terrifying rip current tell their story and a council struggles to contact about 300 people who had previously reported damp and mould in their are five stories from the north east of England you may have missed this week. How brothers survived rip current surf terror On Saturday 17 May, two brothers got caught in a terrifying rip current at a popular surfing beach in north-east England. Euan, 21, and Andrew, 19, were among the dozens dotting the breaking blue waves at Longsands that hope sharing their experience will save more about what the brothers are advocating for here Council struggling to contact 296 mould-hit homes A council says it is struggling to contact close to 300 people who had previously reported damp and mould in their City Council inherited more than 1,800 reports from management organisation Your Homes Newcastle, which was abolished last the 491 outstanding cases it still had last month, the local authority said it had now attempted to contact each of the residents more about the council's pledge to deal with the backlog in damp and mould here Festival to go ahead after new organiser appointed Investors behind the Lindisfarne Festival in Northumberland have appointed its founder, Conleth Maenpaa, to ensure it goes ahead on the last weekend of decision came after original organiser Wannasee, which was behind numerous festivals in the region, announced it was speaking to liquidators and cancelling other news has been welcomed by ticketholders and businesses, with headliners at the Beal Farm event set to include Armand Van Halen, Doves and The more about the plans for the festival here Lost parrot home after frantic five-day search A pet parrot who only recently started to fly has been reunited with his owners following a frantic five-day an African Grey, who is about five months old, went missing from his home last Thursday, leaving Stephen and Christine Wilkinson Wilkinson said her husband, who has cancer, got her Burt as a companion and they quickly bonded, so it was "total and utter, consuming grief" when he out where Burt turned up here Sting's gift 'future-proofs' kids' access to arts An undisclosed amount of money donated by the singer-songwriter Sting will help sustain programmes for children for the foreseeable future, an arts boss has 73-year-old former Police frontman from Wallsend gifted money to the Baltic Arts Centre in Gateshead but asked that the amount stay chair of trustees Kirsty Lang said the gift was "significant" and would help fund programmes for young people at the venue and provide access to "world class contemporary art to inspire".Read more about how the money will help here Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
CBS News
14-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Father's Day weekend predicted to be hot, dry for South Florida
The NEXT Weather Team is tracking a hot and mostly dry Father's Day Weekend for South Florida as afternoon highs linger in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Despite this being near-average, it will still feel like summer with "feels like" temperatures in the mid to upper 90s. While isolated showers will be possible throughout the morning and early afternoon, chances are only at 20% and most will remain dry. This trend continues for Father's Day as highs peak around 90 degrees. If you're looking to beat the heat by heading out to the coast, there is a moderate rip current risk at the beach and no alerts out on the water. Don't forget the sunscreen as the UV Index is "extreme" today and will most likely remain that way for at least the next several days. Looking ahead to next week, our weather pattern remains consistent with highs around 90 and no significant rain chances over the next 7 days.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How brothers survived rip current surf terror
On Saturday 17 May, two brothers got caught in a terrifying rip current at a popular surfing beach in north-east England. They hope sharing their experience will save lives. It was a great day for a surf, with 5ft-high swells sweeping along the shore at Tynemouth. Euan, 21, and Andrew, 19, were among the dozens dotting the breaking blue waves at Longsands that lunchtime. When they rented their boards from a hire centre at the beach, the pair from Gateshead were advised of the safest spots to surf. But, unwittingly, they were being blown by a northerly wind towards a rip current, a permanent fixture beside the lido at the southern end of the mile-long beach. By the time they realised, it was too late. Andrew was the first to get caught, he had stayed out on the water while his brother went ashore to get a different surfboard. "I did not really know what was going on," Andrew says. "I was going full pelt and not getting anywhere." When Euan returned, he instantly saw his younger brother was in trouble and went out to try and help him, getting himself caught in the current. "It was like trying to swim on a treadmill," Euan, 21, recalls. No matter how hard he swam, he found himself and his brother being pulled out to sea by the current. Both quickly realised how serious their situation was, and it became even more perilous when they began to get separated. While each was struggling to keep themselves afloat, they also had the added fear of not knowing what was happening to the other, as they disappeared from each other's view. Their first urge was to panic and swim as hard as they could to get out of their predicament. "I could hear myself panicking but I just knew that would not help me," Euan says. He called at his brother to "just chill", which they laugh about now. But staying calm became key to their survival, the pair remembering the lessons taught to them by their father years before at their local swimming pool. Stay calm and float on your back, conserve energy. Andrew was being bombarded by the breaking waves, tumbling in the tumultuous North Sea. Luckily, he was thrust close to the rocks, which he was able to make a quick burst for and haul himself up on to. But Euan was too far away and being pulled further out to sea. He had seen his brother get out to safety, flooding him with relief, his attention now turning solely to his own predicament. "I was completely helpless," Euan recalls. "I was just very aware no matter how hard or long I swam there was no chance of me fighting this." Neither really knows how long the ordeal lasted or how far they travelled, but it felt like a long time and a long distance. They both say they had "pretty scary" and "dark" thoughts during their struggle, principally about what had happened to the other. Several members of the public, including a 10-year-old boy, saw what was happening and called for help. The RNLI Cullercoats team was paged at 12:09 BST, and 11 minutes later four crew members were aboard their boat Daddy's Girl, bursting out into Cullercoats bay and down the coast. Two minutes later they found Euan. He struggles to describe the relief he felt seeing the bright orange boat bearing down on him. "That was a great feeling," he says. He was hauled over the inflatable side and taken back to the Cullercoats lifeboat station to be checked over and treated with a bag of gummy sweets. He had not realised how cold he was until the paramedics started to look him over. The station's operations manager drove him back to Tynemouth for a reunion with his brother. "We gave each other a big hug," Euan says. Andrew, who was already out of his wetsuit and into his clothes, recalled the relief he felt at seeing his brother tempered by the soggy embrace from Euan's wetsuit. The pair drove home in a daze, Andrew putting I Will Survive on the car's radio. "We were in shock," Euan says. Andrew agrees: "I do not think either of us processed what we had been through." The rip current that caught them is a near permanent feature of Longsands, caused by the North Sea surging past the 1920s-built concrete lido. It is, according to the RNLI, "topographically constrained", while other rip currents can also regularly form along the beach. Rip currents can reach speeds of 5mph and pull anyone caught in them out to sea. They can be difficult to spot but are "sometimes identified by a channel of churning, choppy water on the sea's surface", the RNLI says. Rip currents are the number one source for lifeguard call-outs, Geoff Cowan, the RNLI Cullercoats safety advisor says. Geoff is full of praise for the brothers, first for their actions in the moment and secondly for speaking out about it afterwards in a bid to boost awareness of the perils of rip currents and what to do if caught in one. Advice if caught includes to not try and swim against the current, but rather try and head parallel to the shore until free from its grip. The brothers had several things in their favour, Geoff says, including being young and fit and, crucially, they were wearing wetsuits, which provided invaluable buoyancy aid. They also followed the Float to Live protocols, advice issued by the RNLI to prevent drowning. "We want people to enjoy the water but be mindful of what can go wrong and what to do if it does," Geoff says. Additional advice includes carrying a phone in waterproof pouch and using the SafeTtrx app, which would quickly enable the RNLI to locate those in trouble. Pressing the side button on a mobile phone five times will also start a 999 call, Geoff says. The brothers are yet to return to the sea, but they have been to the Cullercoats station with their family to thank those who came to their aid. "We are really pleased to see them both," Geoff says. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Fifty years of messing with boats and saving lives Beachgoers urged to listen to RNLI podcast RNLI Cullercoats
