Our seas and beaches and climate change

Absolutely correct - there is nothing to say to people who will not listen

It is not that we do not have the life guards and systems here, as they do elsewhere, but the problem is that people take no notice of them.

We are on holiday in North Norfolk at the moment and yesterday we were at the Old Hunstanton Life boat station. We were chatting to the staff there. Despite warning signs everywhere they have had to launch the rescue craft 60 times this season, mainly rescuing people from the sandbanks, revealed at low tide but quickly surrounded by water as the tide comes in. People either do not read signs, read and ignore or think they know better.

In the past there were plenty of drownings but they were generally only covered by local papers. There were fewer people in the country. 45 million when I was born, and we were more law abiding where small regulations governed our lives.Like warning us not to go on sandbanks and watch for the rising tide if you do.

Lathyrus3

Although its good to be able to swim it isn't actually the main thing when it comes to sea safety. A lot of people who get into difficulties are strong swimmers that haven't understood the sea they are in and have underestimated its power and vagaries.

Watching people in the sea, even paddling at the edge, you see how many times they are taken by surprise and lose control, though mostly not with tragic results.

Not to mention Cold Water Shock.
The seas around the UK are not that warm even in the height of Summer. There is a big difference between air and water teperature.

Our seas are not warm like the Mediterranean.

WithNobsOnIt

Just watched the News and it showed a clip Whales being a commonplace sight near South of England Coast.

Eagerly await a sighting of Moby Dick. Jelly fish eat your heart out.

Call me Ishmael

I’d love to spot a whale off our coasts.

Just watched the News and it showed a clip Whales being a commonplace sight near South of England Coast.

Eagerly await a sighting of Moby Dick. Jelly fish eat your heart out.

I've always been in awe of and totally terrified of the sea. In the north of Italy, in my early twenties, I wasn't aware of a steep dip and sudden powerful waves. I was helped by a man who saw my distress and grabbed me. And you are quite right MartavT it made no difference being a strong swimmer. I learnt my lesson.

I’d just love to see and find ways to help prevent these tragic and totally avoidable deaths

There were two other children on the beach, being cared for now by an uncle. (BBC news).

Although its good to be able to swim it isn't actually the main thing when it comes to sea safety. A lot of people who get into difficulties are strong swimmers that haven't understood the sea they are in and have underestimated its power and vagaries.
Exactly. The Boxing Day swimmers who drowned in Budleigh Salterton last year were strong swimmers.

Those that died in Shoreham by sea recently weren’t locals! Londoners visiting the area? People everywhere must realise that our seas are dangerous however calm you think it might be. It is cold, there is always a dangerous undercurrent !!!!
People respect our nature
So sad, and I hope the little one recovering in hospital will be having her family around her, life is going to be difficult💔🙏

The older I get, the more wary of the sea I become.
I am getting like an auntie of mine who didnt even like getting on a boat.

Although its good to be able to swim it isn't actually the main thing when it comes to sea safety. A lot of people who get into difficulties are strong swimmers that haven't understood the sea they are in and have underestimated its power and vagaries.

Watching people in the sea, even paddling at the edge, you see how many times they are taken by surprise and lose control, though mostly not with tragic results.

A lot if people here in the U.K. enter the sea without being able to swim.

Nothing to do with culture but everything to do with perceived risk.

I don’t know if it still happens today but I was on the far end of Bondi beach where there was a bus stop.

The lifeguards were having problems with people getting off the bus and heading straight for the sea to bathe.

There were signs, warning that it was dangerous place to enter the water but they were ignored.

On a television I saw a reporter ask if they could swim, they couldn’t but it was as if it wasn’t necessary they thought.
Definitely cultural.

My DD when she was four, thought she could swim and took off her arm bands, fortunately, I was nearby. She still had the audacity to say she could but the water was a different type.

Yes Whitewavemark2 absolutely tragic.

I think public information films are a great idea but if you are aiming them predominantly at young people it's not much good putting them on tv around Eastenders etc. Youngsters don't watch much television. They need to go out on TikTok,Instagram etc. Just my opinion.

I suspect that it is as petra suggests that the little family couldn’t swim. Which comes as obsolete ly no surprise given that they were refugees and had if brought up in Gaza would have had little opportunity to learn and gain knowledge of the sea, as the Israeli banned people in Gaza from entering the sea for whatever reason.

That and if the mother and girls remained covered in the sea, they would have easily been dragged down.

Tragic.

It’s always been a thing but there is history as to why.

www.google.com/search?q=black+people+dont+swim&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:64959bb4,vid:T001oiXcpCU,st:0

Whitewavemark2

Do you mean the changing seas snd climate?
Or
The arrogance of migrants towards the sea?

Like you I was waiting for a post saying similar to Pilgrimandrew

I asked Google the question after the family drowned on one of our local beaches a few weeks ago and was surprised at its answer. Children of black and Asian heritage are 3.5 times more likely to drown than their white counterparts.

Not sure if it is a cultural difference or maybe the schools they attend are in deprived areas without their own pools and a lack of funds to have swimming lessons at council run pools?

Do you mean the changing seas snd climate?
Or
The arrogance of migrants towards the sea?

Whitewavemark2

And I just knew that we would hit the jackpot some time today😄😄😄

Google this subject Whitewavemark2 it is enlightening.

And I just knew that we would hit the jackpot some time today😄😄😄

The sea state has nothing to do with climate change, more to do with the weather, which since time began has made the sea dangerous at times. I live by the sea and in my experience, some people, typically of black and Asian ethnicity, have a very arrogant and blasé attitude to entering the water. It can be very unforgiving.

They often have full time careers but are prepared to sacrifice their spare time, nights and weekends.

Chocolatelovinggran

My local beach in East Kent has lifeguards. They are well trained, and professional, including in first aid.
I think that this is not a job for volunteers.
There are dangers in all stretches of water : people die in lakes, and canals, and, of course, these will not be guarded.
We did have talks about it in our schools, but I wonder whether the parents should be the target audience, rather than the children.

I beg to differ, all of our national lifeboats at totally manned by volunteers.

By volunteer lifeguards I don’t mean people who just rock up as and well, but regulated, rostered, fully trained volunteers.