Two children in trouble in the water at Portreath beach

Half past seven on a warm August evening. The tide is doing what tides do, the light is still good, and two children who were paddling a few minutes ago are further out than they meant to be. That was Portreath beach on Thursday, and a coastguard crew was already on the road before the situation sorted itself out.

What happened at Portreath beach

The H.M. Coastguard Portreath Rescue Team was tasked at around 7.30pm on Thursday 14 August, following reports of two children in distress in the water. The team listed the incident as No 57.

The crew responded immediately. On arrival they were stood down, because both casualties had safely self recovered from the water before any assistance was required.

“We’re relieved that this incident had a positive outcome and would like to remind everyone to stay safe around the coast, especially during the busy summer period,” the team said.

📷Credit: H.M. Coastguard Portreath Rescue Team

The advice the team wants people to read

Alongside the callout, the team shared five points of water safety advice.

• Always keep children under close supervision near the water.
• Be aware of tides, currents and changing sea conditions.
• Avoid entering the water to rescue others if it may put you at risk. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
• If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, Float to Live: lean back, extend your arms and legs, and control your breathing until help arrives.
• Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

If you see someone in danger

The instinct when someone is struggling in the sea is to go in after them, and it is the one the team specifically warns against. Going in can turn one casualty into two. The advice is to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, then keep the person in sight from the shore.

HM Coastguard is a 999 service in the same way the police, fire and ambulance services are, and its rescue teams are made up of local volunteers on call around the clock.

Thursday’s callout was over almost as soon as it began. As the Portreath team put it, a good reminder that conditions can change quickly and that even confident swimmers can get into trouble.

📷Portreath Beach seen from Western Hill. Portreath, Cornwall, UK.