Girls 'nearly drowned' during St Helens sea fort walk
- Published
The mass walk takes place annually at one of the lowest tides of the year to St Helens Fort and back
Two young girls "nearly drowned" after falling into deep water during a mass walk along an exposed causeway off the Isle of Wight, the RNLI has said.
Lifeboat crews swam to rescue the girls after they fell in deep holes as they returned from St Helens Fort on Monday.
The girls - who were thought to be aged seven and 10 - were taken ashore on the Bembridge inshore lifeboat.
The RNLI then had to issue an appeal to their relatives after they left without being medically checked.
Walkers waded through the low tide from the shore to the fort on Monday evening
"They had probably ingested a quantity of water when they had gone underwater and they were therefore at risk from secondary drowning," the charity said.
It is understood their relatives have since made contact with the RNLI.
The unofficial walk from the shore to St Helens Fort and back along the exposed causeway usually takes place annually in August at one of the lowest tides of the year.
The round trip, which attracts hundreds, takes about an hour to complete.