Don’t get caught out by the tide at beaches including Hunstanton, Holme, Thornham, Titchwell and Brancaster
As Easter sees the start of the summer season on the Norfolk coast, a busy lifeboat crew is issuing safety advice to help people avoid being cut off by the tide.
The shoreline between Hunstanton and Wells features some of the county's most picturesque beaches but Hunstanton RNLI is warning people of the dangers of venturing out too far at low water, with the risk of being stranded as the tide turns.
The danger is most acute during high spring tides - when the sea goes out much further, revealing wide expanses of sand, but comes back in much faster.
Low-lying gullies in areas such as Holme, Thornham, Titchwell and Brancaster can quickly fill with fast-flowing water.
The large tidal range of the sea off west and north Norfolk also means the incoming tide can travel at well over walking pace.
Hunstanton RNLI water safety lead Kate Craven said: “We're blessed by our beautiful coast, but danger also lurks on even the sunniest of days, when it's so tempting to walk all the way across the sands to the sea.
“We'd urge anyone thinking of visiting any tidal area to check the tide times before they do so and ensure they have enough time to get off the beach safely, before the incoming tide cuts them off.
“Sadly 250 people drown every year around the UK coastline, half of whom did not even intend to get wet.”
Tide times are easy to check online by just entering tide times for [location] into your web browser, or going to the Met Office website and searching for the weather forecast for the area you plan to visit.
Hunstanton is one of the region's busiest RNLI stations. Many of the 40 or so launches it performs each year are to people cut off by the tide.
Its lifeboat operations manager Mike Gould said: “Always have your mobile phone with you and ensure it's charged before you visit just in case.
“If you see someone in danger, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you find yourself cut off, do the same and don't try to wade across any gullies or creeks filling with water.”
During one of their most recent rescues, the Hunstanton crew rescued three people stranded at Gore Point, near Holme as a tidal creek filled up behind them.
Two of the trio did not even realise they had become cut off - let alone found themselves in danger - before the crew arrived to bring them safely back to shore.
