Second rescue for father and son
A father and son prompted two rescue operations in 24 hours off the coast of North Somerset.
Mark Caddick, 30, and his eight-year-old son Matthew, from Walsall, were saved from mud flats at Brean Down at 1430 BST on Thursday.
On Friday lunchtime, rescue crews were called out again after the pair put to sea in an inflatable near Weston bay.
Helen Hutson, coastguard watch manager said, “It is regrettable that they have not taken on board our safety advice.”
She added: “We are somewhat surprised that having lost one dinghy in a very dangerous situation, the man acquired another and set out to sea.”
On Thursday, the father and son became trapped in mud flats after attempting to wade out to sea with a dinghy.
Swansea Coastguard was alerted, and the Burnham Hovercraft, lifeboat and the Coastguard were all scrambled, with 50 people involved in the rescue.
On Friday, Weston-super-Mare Coastguard launched its lifeboat and Coastguard rescue team after the pair were seen drifting out to sea in an inflatable dinghy.
Alan Miller, from Burnham Hovercraft, told the BBC: “I could not believe it. It is ridiculous to come two miles down the coast, buy another inflatable and do the same thing again.”
Lelaina Hall, five, from Worcester, died in June 2002, after getting trapped on mudflats while on holiday at Burnham-on-Sea.
The hovercraft used in Thursday’s rescue was purchased following a fundraising campaign launched days after her death.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/3584202.stm
Published: 2004/08/20 17:38:49 GMT
Need some chlorine in the gene pool…
Flood
By: Comet - 21st August 2004 at 11:20
As someone who lives in a seaside holiday town, I can say that those inflatable dinghies should be banned. The only people who buy them are idiots who come from inland with the “won’t happen to me mentality”. Do they stop to think that lifeboat crews risk their safety, all without being paid a penny in wages, for idiots such as them?
If people want to take a trip on the sea, there are boat rides at all seaside resorts and they are organised and run by people who know what they are doing, know the currents and the local tide conditions, and are doing it to make a living.
When at the coast – stay safe, if you want to go in a boat, trust the people who know what they are doing, who know the area and throw the inflatable dinghies on the scrapheap where they belong.
By: steve rowell - 21st August 2004 at 08:05
Some people are born stupid
By: Ren Frew - 21st August 2004 at 01:26
Similar tale on the Firth of Forth last week, when a “yachtsman” had to be rescued for the same mishap twice in as many days by the RNLI. He said he’d been “extremely unlucky”, the RNLI politely said “he owes us a large donation”.
F*ckwittery at large !
By: Low - 21st August 2004 at 00:31
Next time let them go.
By: Grey Area - 21st August 2004 at 00:08
Oh Lordy!
And I’ll bet the father is allowed to vote, too!
By: landyman - 20th August 2004 at 22:58
sounds like we will be hearing of these two again, probably as darwin award winners!!!
Greg
By: plawolf - 20th August 2004 at 22:12
my advice is for the two to buy a hovercraft next time. :rolleyes:
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August 20, 2004 at 9:35 pm