Warning issued after dramatic rescue of mother and child on Skegness beach

The multi-agency rescue took place 300 metres north of the red and yellow flags on Sunday afternoon.

RNLI lifeguard Lois Kemp spotted the lady and child who were struggling to stay afloat.

The mother was trying to keep the boy on the rubber ring, but owing to sea conditions, she was unable to do this, and her head kept going under the water.

Lois immediately drove up to the water’s edge on the charity’s quad bike. She then swam out to the pair with a rescue tube (a long flexible yellow tube that people can grab onto).

Fellow lifeguard Charlie Spencer coordinated communications from the beach along with the local Coastguard rescue team from Skegness.

On reaching the scene, Lois found that a couple who were passing by on a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) had also stopped to help.

The lady from the RIB entered the water and helped Lois wrap the rescue tube around the mother. They also lifted the boy onto the boat and the man onboard took him back to shore.

Lois and the lady guided the child back to the safety of the beach. Charlie and the Coastguard rescue team greeted the casualties on arrival.

Charlie performed a casualty care check on both mother and son and administered oxygen to the boy.

They were then handed over to East Midlands Ambulance Service and taken to hospital for further treatment. They have now been discharged.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, Arun Gray, said: ‘Thanks to the swift actions of our lifeguards and quick thinking by members of the public, a mother and son were speedily rescued from danger yesterday.

‘Our charity’s lifeguards regularly train for incidents such as this and I’m really proud of the teamwork they demonstrated. I’d also like to thank our Coastguard colleagues for their support and the couple in the boat who stopped to help.

‘We’d always urge people to visit a lifeguarded beach and not to use inflatables, blow-up toys or airbeds. These items are designed for pools, not the sea where they can easily be swept out.’

On leaving the scene, Coastguards were stopped by a member of the public to attend a child who had fallen from his bike and had a suspected broken ankle. "Casualty care was carried out and he was then handed over to a second ambulance," a statement reads.

On Monday a warning was circulated by RNLI Skegness following a post on Facebook showing a dingy north of Skegness pier on the beach.

The Coastguard carried out a search but nothing found so the dinghy was removed.

A statement reads: "Whilst on this task, we were approached by a member of the public with concerns for the welfare for a male near the waters edge.

"We approached the male and he was fit and well. This was a good call by the member of the public".

*Children’s safety wristbands are now available from RNLI Lifeguards East of England at Skegness and Mablethorpe beaches, various stall holders and the donkey ride operators.