'Keep children close' warning as lost young people and inflatables remain coastal concerns

RNLI volunteer crews had two launches for their D Class inshore lifeboat yesterday.

Around 2.20pm, they launched to reports of a dingy drifting out to sea at Chapel Point. The lifeboat proceeded north but was stood down en route after it was established that no assistance was required.

At 6.40pm, they were requested to launch to reports of two swimmers in difficulty off shore from the RNLI Lifeguard tower at Skegness central beach. After launching, the inshore lifeboat, the crew of three volunteers proceeded to search out to sea, eventually locating a small tender with two persons on board two miles from the shore.

The people aboard the vessel agreed to be escorted to shore after realising how far out they were.

Once ashore, the dingy and persons on board were handed to H.M Coastguard Skegness for safety advice.

In another incident, the Coastguard was tasked to a missing child on Skegness beach. A line search was carried out and the child was located and reunited with her mother.

On Monday, the first task of the day was to reports of an unconscious person in water at Chapel St Leonards. On arriving at the scene, it was established the casualty was alert and in the back of the ambulance. The casualty was then taken to hospital.

The second callout of the day was to a vulnerable young female in Ingoldmells . On arriving, a hub search of the beach took place to the north and south. Skegness inshore lifeboat carried out a shoreline search and Lincolnshire police carried out foot patrols and a search with their atv.

All coastguard teams then returned to the initial planning point. The senior coastal operations officer, the Coastguard officer in charge and Skegness alpha then drew up a new search plan, which involved searching caravan sites and surrounding areas. As the teams started their new search the very welcome news came through that the child had been found.

This was a large scale multi agency search involving three coastguard rescue teams, Lincolnshire police and RNLI Skegness

The RNLI is recommending children wear a wrist band, which are available from Skegness lifeguard hut, some beach bars and if you see us out and about we will be more than happy to supply some.

"If you’re spending your day at the beach hear at Skegness, please use the lifeguarded area and stay within the flags.

"On a busy beach it is very easy to loose sight of kids and little ones, keep them close."

*If you see an emergency at the coast call 999 and ask for the coastguard.