Inflatables risk alert after child rescued from dingy

The RNLI has issued a warning about inflatables after a 10-year-old girl was blown out to sea

A 10-year-old girl on an inflatable dinghy had to be rescued after she was blown out to sea off the Kent coast.

A coastguard helicopter located the child near Reculver, between Herne Bay and Birchington, and winched her to safety on Sunday afternoon.

The dinghy was found nearly two miles (3.21km) east of Reculver and three quarters of a mile offshore.

Whitstable RNLI said the incident highlighted the dangers of using inflatable beach toys and dinghies.

“With the summer months and the holiday season almost upon us, and people heading for the beaches, we cannot stress enough the dangers people need to be aware off when venturing on or into the water,” water safety adviser Rachel Goff said.

“Offshore breezes and ebb tides can rapidly...carry people out to sea and, as with this incident, the casualty was located a considerable distance from the shore.”

The RNLI advised beachgoers to take note of the weather and tidal conditions before entering the water.

Ms Goff added: “If people must use inflatable beach toys then the advice that has always been given here at Whitstable RNLI is that they should be held with a line by someone on shore and children should never be left unsupervised.

“In addition, those using paddleboards or indeed any form of small craft should always wear some form of buoyancy aid and carry a means of communication such as a phone or radio in a waterproof bag.

“By taking a few simple precautions we hope that all can enjoy a happy day at the beach rather than it end in a possible tragedy.”

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