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Original poster

Please please please watch your children at the beach

109 replies

listsandbudgets · 19/08/2021 20:38

I'm staying in Devon at the moment and decided at about half past four to go for a swim. I'm a reasonably confident swimmer and know that at this particular beach its quite easy to go quickly out of your depth.

I was treading water talking to another woman I vaguely know when she suddenly said "I think that little girl just went under over there" Luckily we were fairly close, swam as quickly as we could and were able to grab her and haul her out. She was coughing up sea water and obviously terrified but she was OK. We took her back to the beach and her parents hadn't even realised - understandably they were extremely upset :(

Please watch your children and make sure for yourself before they go in how quickly it gets deep some beaches you can walk out for ages and its barely past your waists but not all of them.. I'm only processing now what could have happened if the lady I was with hadn't spotted her.

OP posts:
brokenbiscuitsx · 19/08/2021 22:51

When I was 11/12 I walked in the sea, one minute it was up to my waist the next step the ground disappeared beneath my feet (must have been a shelf type thing) and I went under. A group of kids were swimming/playing near me and they didn’t notice I was in trouble, I could see their bodies under the water but couldn’t reach them. I was in such a panic and eventually I got to the surface. I honestly thought I was going to drown and no one would notice. Just goes to show how it can happen.

Surroundedbytwits · 19/08/2021 22:51

The same thing happened to me when I was 4. I remember it so clearly. I fell off a boat into the sea and couldn’t swim. I went under and I remember thinking I was going to die. Nobody in the boat had noticed. It was down to pure random chance that somebody passing saw me and pulled me out.

PeterCorbeau · 19/08/2021 22:57

I am incredibly anxious about DD being near the sea. It just feels so uncontrolled and I watch her like a hawk. I'm not really a hovering kind of parent anywhere else, but when we are at the beach I am always within grabbing range of her.

CustardySergeant · 19/08/2021 22:58

@SwanShaped

What’s squares in the sea?
www.surfertoday.com/surfing/what-are-square-waves
Mollymalone123 · 19/08/2021 22:59

Also teach your family how to recognise a rip tide- I too am from n Devon-
And please don’t allow your kids to dig great big holes in the sand. Absolutely treacherous

lastcall · 19/08/2021 22:59

@frazzledfragglefromfragglerock

We are sailors and paddle boarders. My kids never swim in the sea without bouyancy aids. If we're paddling without them they're only allowed into their knees.

My eldest is 14 Asda string swimmer and the rules still apply!

Same
Scrumptelicious · 19/08/2021 23:00

Well done OP.

This gives me shivers. I had a horrible incident recently with kids at a beach. I was in the water with them when two (competent swimmers) were pulled out in a flash with the current. The third clung to me in fear refusing to let go, so I was unable to react. Thankfully some swimmers and a lifeguard close by reacted quickly to my screams. I will never swim again with 3 kids on my own..

Millionnewnames · 19/08/2021 23:05

Echo this!
I went on a PGL holiday when I was 10. 20 or so of us bobbing around in the surf on boards. Plenty of instructors about. I was a club swimmer who had been swimming in the sea since I was knee high to a grasshopper and I got whacked with a wave and pushed under. The water suddenly felt colder and I was being dragged down despite kicking like a good’un to the surface. I couldn’t do it, I was in a rip . I got dragged out full of water and with a badly torn calf muscle. I think the instructor really struggled to get me back to the beach as by then all the other kids were lined up on the sand. The dangers of the sea should never be underestimated . I dress mine like they are going to a rave in neons and never take my eyes off them.

Bunnycat101 · 19/08/2021 23:14

I’d also say with lockdown there’s a good chance lots of people are not as good at swimming as they remember. I’ve recently been back to the pool after a long break. I have always been a strong swimmer but I was really shocked how weak I seemed to be. My lung capacity was no where near as good and front crawl was very tiring for me. I remember saying to my husband I wouldn’t trust myself swimming in the sea until I’d got my normal levels of stamina back.

sassbott · 19/08/2021 23:14

@Screwcorona yup it’s a lovely beach. Great for surfing but one to be very careful on, especially with kids. The bigger the waves, the more I worry on that one. Currents can be very strong and sudden. The shelves are so hazardous. Cannot believe it snapped your board!

I’d also encourage people to understand what the flags mean. I’ve seen people continue to go into the ocean even when red flagged. They seem to believe that the lifeguard presence means the beach is guarded.
Eventually they come in after repeated sirens from the lifeguards, but I mean it is quite unfathomable how many people turn up for a day on the beach and simply fail to educate themselves and their kids on beach safety.

52andblue · 19/08/2021 23:22

My daughter was in a Council swimming pool.
She was 8. She had ALL levels of Swim lessons and passed them all - a good strong swimmer.
The pool was packed. I took my eye off her for a minute to wade across and find her brother (the pool was much too busy). When I looked back she was going under. she went down, upright, no splash, no fuss. she just didnt' come back up. the lifeguard wasn't looking. I remember my fear as I tried to get across a crowded pool. I shouted eventually got there, shouted at the lifeguard, we got her out and he worked on her till she coughed up water. She was scared but fine.
Ironically I'd watched an Australian clip about how drowning is usually silent the week before. But it was the sea I was scared of (2 primary school friends of mine drowned and I was swept out on a dingy aged 10 and was absolutely terrified) I thought she was safe in a pool, having passed all her levels of council swim lessons. I was wrong.

OP you saved that child's life.

Whatinthelord · 19/08/2021 23:25

I had similar in Tenby this week on a very calm flat day. I Was swimming parallel to the shore then noticed a lad doing the classic bobbing (head back, mouth up arms up and down) that I’d seen in a video about how children drowning look.
I swam to him as did his sister who was near by. His sister helped him in and I bobbed along with them until he found his feet. The bloody dad was stood, fully clothed on the shore just watching. Idiot.

I always have my tow float with me when I swim so I have some botany if I need it, but also so I have something to help other swimmers with if needed in an emergency.

Never realised what a slow swimmer but swimming towards him felt like it took forever.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/08/2021 23:28

I grew up at the seaside. DM was watchful but when I was 2-3 I apparently once ran down for a paddle and got knocked over by a wave. She fished me out...and then while she was getting herself dried off I did it again and a stranger fished me out.

The fatalities or serious accidents we heard about were firstly, people allowing kids to play on untethered lilos (I take it everyone now knows the dangers of inflatables and offshore winds?) And secondly, people not realising that there could be a significant difference in water level each side of the groynes - the problem was not diving in on the deep side, it was doing it on the shallow side and breaking their necks.

Silkiescatz · 19/08/2021 23:37

I agree you need to watch them really closely and in the pool as well as the sea. I saw a child going under and screaming at an outdoor pool with no lifeguard and I asked him if he needed help and he screamed yes. Got him out, child said thank you. Dad and Mum were at the bar drinking, Dad said thank you. Mum was like he was fine, he was just pretending to be drowning and proceeded to scream at child. Hmm

Susannahmoody · 19/08/2021 23:55

I think a lot of people think they are far better swimmers than what they are. No-one is stronger than a wave.

WTF0ver · 19/08/2021 23:56

Well done, how scary.

Slightly different scenario but on a family holiday years ago we were at a swimming pool, my dad and us kids. Another dad had his son in the changing room getting him ready, however he hadn't noticed that his toddler was wandering around and was thisclose to falling in the pool - my dad saw him at the edge and grabbed him and took him to his dad. It can happen so quickly.

Deathsquito · 19/08/2021 23:58

Since having dc I’ve found any body of water terrifying!

Taught them to swim as quickly as possible but also instilled in them that the only place we swim is the swimming pool. Not the sea/quarry/lake /river.

We don’t live near any unpolluted water sources anyway, and I don’t consider it worth the risk for just when we are holiday.

The sea is just for getting buckets of water from while holding an adults hand! Yes, even the 8 year old as beaches are so busy it can be easy to lose them and after experiencing being swept out as a child I know how quickly it can go from ‘fun’ to ‘oh fuck’.

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 20/08/2021 00:20

Deathsquito search and rescue hover over my house and have done countless time. Ive been woken up by the searchlight shining through my windows...... If that isnt enough to make someone cautious I don't know what is!

bubblebubblebubbletrouble · 20/08/2021 00:38

My 10 year old was in a right strop with me when we were on holiday earlier this year. Tide going out, windy day and I could feel the pull. She was deeply offended that as a good swimmer I insisted she stayed close to me & shore. The next day the tragic Dorset Rockley Bay incident was the telly & she grudgingly agreed i was right
I am always in the sea with mine unless they are sat on the edge. So many parents stand fully closed shouting to their kids or ignoring them & it terrifies me, especially with inflatables.

BlackeyedSusan · 20/08/2021 00:42

Always in with mine. Death grip round the wrist. Will try to get boyancy aids for us for next year.

careerchangeperhaps · 20/08/2021 05:35

[quote tootingbeclido]@Saz12. Yes lots of kids learn to swim...do they learn about water safety.[/quote]
A good swim school will teach this too. Twice a year, ours has a water safety week when the focus is just on water safety. The DC have to wear clothes rather than swim wear and practice moving in the water in clothing, taking clothing off whilst in the water and drills like shouting for help, floating, treading water and 'rescuing' each other by throwing something in from the side or holding out a stick while lying down on the side of the pool. All children take part - even the 3 year old absolute beginners do age-appropriate activities.
They also have a separate, termly 'no goggles' week where they have their normal lessons but don't wear goggles so that they can get used to swimming without them and minimise the risk of panic situations if they should ever end up in water unexpectedly.

Saz12 · 20/08/2021 08:34

@careerchangeperhaps, that sounds like a great idea. I learnt to dive into a pool in pyjamas to “rescue” a brick: (it was the 1980’s!).

Saz12 · 20/08/2021 08:41

I think it’s a shame not to swim outside as it’s just lovely. I did it as a kid and still do it now (take a buoyancy aid, either to wear or use as a float as I’m not a brilliant swimmer). DD only when wearing a buoyancy aid and not allowed to be far from me, obviously (in case I need help 😂)

TinyTroubleMaker · 20/08/2021 13:25

Thank you so much for this thread. I think I'll be a lot more vigilant and invest in a buoyancy aid for next year as a result.

ParistoLondon · 20/08/2021 13:27

Well done both of you. Flowers