Teens rescued after paddleboard gets stuck in rip

A RNLI lifeboat in the water. Land can be seen behind the boat and white water surrounding the orange boat. Four people are in the boat with yellow jackets, orange life vests and white helmets.Image source, RNLI/Ollie Whelan
Image caption,

Two teenagers and an adult were rescued just off Bamburgh on Tuesday

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Two teenagers were rescued from the North Sea after their paddleboard got stuck in a rip current.

The pair were spotted struggling and getting pushed further out to sea off Bamburgh beach, in Northumberland, at around 14:48 BST on Tuesday, Seahouses RNLI said.

As the D-Class inshore lifeboat was prepared to launch, the crew was told a third person had entered the water to try and assist the teenagers.

Helm Tris Owen said: "We were very lucky to arrive on the scene when we did, as the paddle board was being pushed closer and closer to the rocks which could have had a catastrophic outcome."

When the lifeboat arrived the two teenagers were on the board with the third person in the water holding on to the back.

Mr Owen instructed the crew to rescue the children first and they were handed into the care of rescue teams from Seahouses and Howick on the beach before the boat returned for the adult.

The adult was exhausted from fighting the rip, the RNLI said.

Mr Owen said the incident showed "just how quickly things can change at sea".

"Always wear a lifejacket, carry a means of calling for help, and make sure you understand the local tides and currents before heading out," he said.

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