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Camber sands tragedy

229 replies

bibbitybobbityyhat · 25/08/2016 11:41

What on earth has happened at Camber Sands? Are there insufficient life guards or something? I am not prone to hysteria but I would not be going to that beach anytime soon. Such a terrible event, somewhat buried by other news yesterday and the string of drownings in the last week.

OP posts:
KoalaDownUnder · 26/08/2016 13:52

DoinItFine, people who can't swim should stick close to dry land if they're going to the beach, yes.

I don't see how this is a controversial opinion.

Peregrina · 26/08/2016 13:56

I don't know Camber Sands but I do know beaches where there are sandbanks and the tide comes in quickly. These people would almost certainly have thought they were sticking close to dry land.

I always either check the tide tables or spend some minutes watching to see which way the tide is going and how quickly, but I grew up near the sea and have seen the RNLI go out to rescue people.

ClashCityRocker · 26/08/2016 16:13

That's it, I can see why they thought it was 'safe' - I probably would have done too. I mean, I'd never go swimming in the sea because I'm a weak swimmer, but I didn't really know what a sandbank was until reading this thread, or how dangerous they could be.

DoinItFine · 26/08/2016 16:23

These people would almost certainly have thought they were sticking close to dry land.

Exactly.

"Dry land" is not a fixed place. It changes constantly.

And the existence of permanent structures does not necessarily mean you are safe.

On a huge flat beach where you can see for miles in every direction and the sea is barely visible on the horizon, you do not expect to be outrun by the tide.

I imagine they thought they could stroll back easily once they saw the tide coming in.

I have lived by the sea for my whole life and am aware of the dangers, but I find this case shocking.

It could have happened to me.

Admittedly, I'm a good swimmer. But being caught on a sandbank with deep channels all around you as the tide rushes in sounds terrifying.

Bobochic · 26/08/2016 17:22

The real issue, as far as I understand it from reading the papers, is that none of the five drowned boys knew how to swim.

FarAwayHills · 26/08/2016 17:23

This is such a sad story. They were just playing football on a sandy busy beach on a sunny day - what could possibly happen. Given the popularity of this beach, location of holiday parks etc I find it hard to comprehend that the dangers were not signed everywhere.

If any positive can come from this tragedy maybe more people are now aware of the dangers and will treat the sea with extreme caution.

Bobochic · 26/08/2016 17:26

There were no inhabitual dangers though. It was a normal day at Camber where hundreds of thousands of people go safely every year.

It is not safe to go in the sea if you cannot swim. Why isn't this message drummed into children at school? We are an island nation.

clam · 26/08/2016 17:26

That's not true, bobochic. the boys' family representatives have said on camera that they could swim.

DoinItFine · 26/08/2016 17:45

I heard the RNLI saying that it was more dangerous than usual because the channels between the sandbars were deeper than they normally are due to recent storms.

KoalaDownUnder · 26/08/2016 17:46

Satthiyanathan Arumukam, the father of the two brothers who drowned, is quoted as saying 'It is very, very sad but neither of my sons could swim'.

KoalaDownUnder · 26/08/2016 17:48

(Although really, whether they could swim or not, that beach needs bigger warning signs and/or lifeguards.)

clam · 26/08/2016 17:51

The other three could though, I believe.

FarAwayHills · 26/08/2016 18:09

They were visitors to the area. They were, like many others, not familiar with the particular conditions at this beach. The danger of this beach and many like it is that it looks safe - lots of sand, shallow waters at low tide and calm conditions. It could have caught anyone out. I'm sure there are lots who have heard about this and thought gosh I've been there, my kids have played there, we thought it was safe.

youarenotkiddingme · 26/08/2016 19:24

I saw someone reading a newspaper earlier. I tried to read over their shoulder without appearing like a stalker! Headline seemed to hint that the 2 non swimmers got caught out and their 3 mates went in to help.

The news says passers by also assisted and one held a victims head out of the water. So it seems they drowned before rescue.

The area is dangerous. The sandbanks are dangerous. My friend and I have been quite upset by this after we got caught with children a few years ago in Rye (just other side of harbour from camber)
There is not warnings about about just how dangerous it is. There is coastal oaths all the way down to the front.

My thoughts are with the families and friends of the tragic 5 young men who just went to enjoy a day of unseasoned weather.

throwingpebbles · 26/08/2016 19:56

If you are going to walk out to a sandbar anywhere though you should be very alert to the risks of doing so.

Yes, signs and lifeguards are a good plan, but nonetheless people need to take responsibility for their own safety and respect the sea and educate themselves about tide times/ safe swimming etc. We shouldn't expect to be babied.

Huge sympathy for the young men though, what a heart breaking loss for those families Flowers

DoinItFine · 26/08/2016 20:01

Headline seemed to hint that the 2 non swimmers got caught out and their 3 mates went in to help.

:(

Oh no.

For those who don't know - the very, very last thing you do if someone is in trouble in the water is to go in after them.

Unless you are a strong swimmer, trained in lifesaving, and/or familiar with the location, it is pretty much just a suicide mission.

Call the coastguard, call for help, make a human chain from land into the water, throw them something that floats (eg football).

Do not go into the water to "save" someone if you don't know what you are doing.

That's just two deaths.

5 young men dead. What an utter waste.

Poor lads. Their poor families.

MrSlant · 26/08/2016 20:38

PortiaCastis linked to RNLI lifeguards and their training. I just wanted to add that (around here at least) they are not volunteers, they are highly trained, very fit, young adults who get a wage in return for their hard work. Their fitness levels are also tested monthly and if they fail they have a week to get back up to the correct level or they are out. The younger newly qualified ones often volunteer as well to get experience ahead of applying for jobs the next year. All of my family have their beach lifesaving qualifications to the appropriate level for their age (we range from qualified beach lifeguards to a 9 year old with nipper qualifications) and I would NEVER turn my back on the sea, with or without them in it. It's a big scary place and always waiting for you to get complacent.

Also second the don't go in and rescue someone unless you are 100% sure you are strong enough and have the skills for the job and if you DO go in, TELL SOMEONE ELSE before you do so they can go for help and know what you are doing.

I've been heartbroken reading about the 5 young men who lost their lives. The worst thing about the sea is sometimes it just looks inviting and safe, I would never expect people from the centre of London on a day out to know the diverse dangers of a beach like Camber Sands, I didn't and I pretty much live my life around surf life saving and the sea.

Lweji · 26/08/2016 21:21

Unless you are a strong swimmer, trained in lifesaving, and/or familiar with the location, it is pretty much just a suicide mission.

Yes.

The drowning person will be grasping for help and will probably drag you down if you don't know how to approach them and get hold of them safely to take them to the shore. I expect that's what happened to the rescuers in this case, who probably weren't fantastic swimmers either.

Peregrina · 26/08/2016 21:26

To add though - the RNLI isn't Government funded - it relies on donations. Do please give to them. It's a cause very dear to my own heart. I lived near the sea as a child and saw the lifeboat go out at least 4 times that I can remember.

MrSlant · 26/08/2016 21:49

Oh yes, support the RNLI, what they achieve through fund raising alone is utterly astonishing, there can't be another organisation like it in the world.

youarenotkiddingme · 26/08/2016 21:55

article

What is soul destroying is looking at the pictures. There is men behind windbreakers being resuscitated and you can see how far out people are still right at the scene.

PortiaCastis · 26/08/2016 21:57

MrSlant I'm an ageing RNLI lifeguard, yes it is paid but not very well. I just volunteer now.
All the RNLI info is on Google
I linked to show the training programme which is rigourous and difficult.
My sympathies to all the bereaved families this week.
The woman in Looe who had to be rescued 3 times in a week and then had the temerity to say on fb that she was entitled to be rescued if she was in trouble. well words fail me
I have tried to keep off this thread as I don't know the area concerned but live in Cornwall so have seen many dreadful things.
In general the Respect the Sea message is what we are trying to get out there.
There are not enough people who want to be lifeguards, hence the lack of them. It's not something that you can start immediately.

hollyisalovelyname · 26/08/2016 22:00

How tragic for the victims' loved ones.
My deepest sympathy to their families and friends.
You just never know what's around the corner.

MrSlant · 26/08/2016 22:04

I'm not sure that's the most accurate article as to what happened, it's great that it explains the danger or rip tides but I thought the RNLI had discounted that? There are a couple of photo's that do show how the tide is starting to creep in to the left of the picture around a sandbar where lots of families are still playing, not realising they could get cut off pretty quickly.

I really really hope that if tragedies like this have to happen then at least a lot of education comes out of it and people learn not to be complacent by the sea.

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