Oh no, what's happened in Cornwall?

[IHeartKingThistle]

3 adult surfers dead in the water, 4 children alive on the beach. What on earth can have happened?

What? Bloody hell.

Jesus, I haven't seen this. Will look now.

Sorry, should have linked.

here

Oh god. Going to look for the story now.

:(

Seems like all 7 of them got in trouble but the kids managed to get out?

That's down the road!

Was the beach life guarded? There are some dreadfully strong currents and rips at the moment.

Out of the summer season many beaches don't have lifeguard support.

Horrible tragedy.

Oh that sounds absolutely horrific, how awful!

The ambulances passed us as we left Newquay it wasn't a particularly big swell today but there are some dangerous rips there.

What an awful tragedy

So sad when I heard this today. As someone who enjoys surfing, particularly in the Newquay area, it is always a chilling reminder of the power of the sea when something like this happens.
My thoughts are with their family and friends.

The beach was not life guarded, they only have life guards during the summer. A man also died yesterday ( a 23 year old ). The beaches on the north coast of Cornwall can be very dangerous, in the summer parts are cordoned off and lifeguards keep a close eye on the currents. If the beach had lifeguards then no one would have been allowed into the water ( apparently it was too dangerous to surf today ). Very sad that this has happened, the sea is a very dangerous place.

It's a tight inlet coves and the rocks get a pretty tough beating
I fear they must be related, it's half term and there are several family hotels on the beach
My thoughts are with their families

I have experienced surfers in family who didn't go in last week due to waves or rip being too big I think without lifeguards people don't assess well and assume it's just 'big waves'

How tragic, I hope the children will be okay.

The sea is so unpredictable and the currents are so strong

It's dismal that there aren't the facilities for better lifeguard beach support, but we're really reliant on charities and volunteer services here... Including air ambulance.

It happened about this time last year too further up the coast with a family. I believe two died then as well and they were swimming.

Bloody sad.

This is terrible.

Trouble is the RNLI cannot provide unlimited cover, all year round. There are warnings on rippy beaches but they are ignored.

That said I do think that with reduced cover and financial constraints, places like surf hire shops have a greater role and responsibility to report on the day's conditions, and to refuse to hire equipment to people who they think run the risk of getting in trouble, especially on a non lifeguarded beach. However a lot of fair weather surfers now own their equipment and bring it down with them.

Sympathies to those involved - it's appalling. Cornwall has had a dreadful weekend, with four dead in the sea and a huge pile up on the A30 which killed a man :(

how to spot and react to rip currents

Really, really sad. I don't know how lifeguard cover is funded but I predict that someone will blame council cuts.

My brother use to surf there loads as he lives nearby. He got caught in a rip a couple of years ago and lowed it to take him to the next bay where he got out. Apparently the storms last winter have really changed the tides and beach there. If they have surfed at mawgan Pirth every year but are not local they may not know this.
Terribly sad.

It is so sad. Terrible for the families and all involved.
We are surfing at Polzeath this week. The lifeguards and RLNI do a fantastic job. Over the years we have seen surfing become more and more popular but I'm not sure people know the risks.

Looking at another of the articles about it, it looks as if the adults killed may have gone in to help the teenagers who were caught in the rip currents.

First rule if you are surfing and caught in a rip is do not under any circumstances abandon your board. It could save your life.

I just an article about this that said the people weren't surfing, they were swimming.

Also, the RNLI need Cornwall Council to pay the lifeguards' wages. The RNLI would provide cover for longer into the year, on more beaches, but the council will not cover the cost. So sad.

some articles are saying swimming some are saying surfing.

None of the beaches have life guard cover down here this time of year as far as I'm aware.

I think people often forget how powerful the sea is.

Very sad.

It's a horrible tragedy. What selfless people to race in to save those children. I suppose from the shore they mightn't have realised there was a rip tide until they were in too far to save themselves.

I used to swim in the sea as a child/teen on family holidays. I used to love going really far out and swimming back in with the tide. As an adult and parent I am now completely freaked out by the sea and never go more than paddling distance.