Latest news with #tide
BBC News
10 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.
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Silversea luxury cruise passengers stranded near fragile island off northern WA
A tour operator has rescued dozens of its luxury cruise guests stranded on an atoll off northern WA's Kimberley coast. The Silversea cruise passengers were exploring in small boats near Adele Island on Thursday when they were caught by the outgoing tide. The Silver Cloud ship, which caters for 250 people and 200 crew, was four nautical miles (seven kilometres) from the passengers. "What started as a fabulous trip across to Adele Island ended with all 100-odd passengers and staff getting caught by the rapid tide going out," passenger Mark David Reid posted on social media. "We all had to get out and make our way across coral beds to make it to new zodiacs and get to the ship. The Silver Cloud has 20 inflatable boats, which were used to ferry some passengers to safety. Others had to wait hours in the small boats, in darkness, before the water rose enough to make it back. Passenger Des Groves said he got back to the ship at 10pm yesterday. "We saw lots of turtles though," he posted on social media. Adele Island, renowned as an important bird nesting site, is a small, low-lying island 150km north of Cape Leveque. Classified as an A-Class reserve, the island is accessible only with a permit from the WA Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and has visitor limits. Phillip "Bibido" McCarthy, one of the traditional owners of the area, said it was important people were aware of large tidal fluctuations in the Kimberley. "I even know of locals getting stuck," the Bardi Jawi ranger coordinator said. "The Kimberley has got the biggest tides in the southern hemisphere, so you've got to be careful of what you're doing and be aware of your surroundings [and] the tides." Mr McCarthy said the island was a sanctuary for nesting birds and turtles. "You don't want hundreds of people walking on the island if there are birds nesting, [and] turtles out there as well," he said. DBCA and Silversea have been contacted for comment.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Forty people rescued in a day in Norfolk despite tide warning
A lifeboat station said 40 people were cut off by the tide in the space of two hours despite its recent RNLI in Norfolk described Saturday as exceptionally busy, with 30 people reported stranded on a sandbank at Brancaster and 10 at Wells beach, although not all waited to be helped.A social media post said: "We have yet more reports of people putting their lives in danger trying to wade back to safety, please don't do it."On Tuesday it warned beachgoers of "incredibly hazardous" incoming tides after a person had to be rescued. It advised people to return to dry sand or land, with no more channels to cross, at least four hours before high tide. Most of the 30 people reported stranded in Brancaster at 12:10 BST on Saturday made their own way to safety but Hunstanton RNLI hovercraft took 10 people to inshore lifeboat was stood down but, as it made its way back to base, received reports of more people cut off by the tide at the western side of Wells beach."The lifeboat crew safely assisted seven adults, three children and two dogs from the quickly diminishing sandbank back to shore," the RNLI advised anyone cut off by the tide to call 999 and give as accurate a location as they can. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Black Rock Sands parking warning at beach after vehicles submerged
People are being urged to park carefully and "treat the sea and coastline with respect" after three vehicles were caught out by the tide just days apart at the same beach. A campervan left at Traeth y Greigddu, also known as Black Rock Sands, near Porthmadog was submerged on Friday 13 June, while another was rescued just in time on Sunday 8 June. A VW Beetle was also swamped by the tide on Saturday 14 June. While parking is allowed at the beach, Cyngor Gwynedd has urged beachgoers to check tide times and avoid parking below the high tide line, warning that stuck vehicles may incur recovery costs. Drivers pay £8 to park their cars at Traeth y Greigddu and £16 for caravans, but some still venture into restricted soft sand areas despite clear Gibson, who lives in Morfa Bychan and walks the beach daily with his dogs, said he had seen about six vehicles stuck in the sand so far this believes many tourists underestimate how fast the tide moves and ignore the council's warning recovery companies usually retrieve the stranded vehicles the following day, locals sometimes attempt to help, Mr Gibson added. On the evening of Saturday 14 June he received a call from a woman whose VW Beetle was stuck, but as he no longer does vehicle recoveries he advised her to contact the council using the details on the beach entrance signs."She said she was staying at a local campsite and didn't really know the area," he said."This is the third time in a week here. "I do feel sorry for them - these are often expensive vehicles, and I'm not sure what the situation is with insurance in these cases," he added. Dillon Green, from Liverpool, has had a caravan near Morfa Bychan beach for five years. He also runs a recovery company and said he often received calls from stressed drivers who have spotted his truck and contact details when he visits his caravan each Green said: "I've been going there for five years in a recovery truck and never got stuck myself so I don't understand how people do it."I have definitely seen a rise in the amount of cars getting stuck."It's almost every weekend." Mr Green said even if people were stuck at the top of the beach it is usually not a problem, but down at the bottom the tide comes in fast and can trap vehicles quickly. "People often panic and make it worse by accelerating, which just digs the wheels in deeper," he added. Most of the time Mr Green said he could pull them out with the winch, but if the tide gets them, the car is "usually ruined". A spokesperson for Cyngor Gwynedd, which manages the beach, said while the council welcomed everyone to its "beautiful" beaches and coastal areas, it wants "everyone to enjoy themselves safely".Visitors are urged to check the weather forecast, tide times, and to "treat the sea and coastline with respect".Motorists should avoid parking below the high tide line and remain alert to changing conditions, the council "multiple signs" warning of potential dangers and vehicle restrictions, the local authority said some drivers still become stuck in soft sand or rising tides, often after ignoring advice. The spokesperson said: "Where possible, during staffed hours, council officers will endeavour to recover any vehicles that get into such difficulties. "However, in some cases it may be necessary to seek assistance from a third-party contractor, for which the driver or owner of the vehicle would be responsible for the associated costs."Beach wardens will be on duty daily from 27 June to 6 September, and the beach barrier will close at 8pm each evening to "prevent vehicles gaining access to the beach."
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Two camper vans and a VW Beetle are submerged by the sea after owners 'ignored warnings of fast tide'
Two camper vans and a VW Beetle were sumberged by vicious waves on a Welsh beach after their owners 'ignored warnings of a fast tide'. The vehicles suffered the same fate within days of each other at scenic Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog. A VW camper van was swamped on June 8 after being parked on the sand, while another campervan also succumbed to the water on Friday 13. One day later, a white convertible beetle was also soaked - though it reappeared the next morning. Black Rock Sands is one of the few beaches in north Wales where cars are allowed to drive, but its gentle shelf means the tide comes in fast. Waterlogged sand quickly traps vehicles leaving little chance of escape, without help. Local Kevin Gibson said he had seen many drivers often get caught out: 'It's one of the very few beaches which you can drive on. It's very popular. People don't take notice.' 'When they drive on the beach they are warned not to drive past warning signs of soft sand and fast tide. 'Unfortunately we are seeing cars get caught out all too often as the warnings are ignored. I do feel sorry for the people, it is shame for them.' Kevin Wardlaw, who spotted the campervan, said: 'I can see how easy it could be for people to get caught out, but there are signs there.'
