Camber sands tragedy

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

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.

Those poor young men. I can understand why they didn't get the danger and I really think a beach like Camber sands, with that many people potentially using it (and getting into trouble) needs lifeguards, because there will always be people who see a flat sea on a hot day and not the risks.

i used to watch 'Bondi Rescue' , about the (myriad well trained and equipped) lifeguards and was surprised by how comparatively small Bondi beach is. I could be wrong, but it looked loads smaller than Camber...

" I'd never go swimming in the sea because I'm a weak swimmer,"

I'm a weak swimmer and I've swum in the sea. I thought everybody did to be honest. Of course I don't go any further than where I can stand.

"but I didn't really know what a sandbank was until reading this thread, or how dangerous they could be."

Me neither, but I presume they're not relevant to the beaches I've been to.

I think the point about having lifeguards there will make people think it is safe is a good one. I don't think signs will make that much difference, people just never think it will happen to them. If a lifeguard were there they'd just rely on the lifeguard to fish them out if things went wrong

Finding trained lifeguards will be difficult

Gwenhwyfar sandbanks can occur wherever there are waves or currents that move the sand around so probably a possibility at any beach you have been to. I'm really torn on this one, I think that everyone should be able to enjoy the sea, have a float on their back and just enjoy the environment. We just need people to be a lot more vigilant and educated than they appear at the moment. A friend of ours who has competed for his country in surf life saving and holds current beach life guard certification (along with 30 plus years of experience) got caught in a rip last week so it doesn't matter about your knowledge, you will be taken just the same. He just knew not to panic and how to get back to shore.

Actually, most important piece of information - if you are caught in a rip it will NOT tale you miles and miles out to sea, it will get past whatever is funnelling the water and give you up. It's a Hitch Hikes Guide to the Galaxy moment, DON'T PANIC that's the most important think to know. Don't panic, don't fight it and raise the alarm as best you can.

Also most people who are drowning aren't flailing about and causing alarm, they are quiet. I'll find a link for that.

I repeat my link

rnli.org/aboutus/lifeguardsandbeaches/Pages/Lifeguards.aspx

HA, although not to alarm you friend caught in the rip was also out bodysurfing and making the most of the huge waves thrown up by the stormy weather so he knew the risks!

MrSlant Are you RNLI also?

I love watching the videos in that link Portia, the young adults who work as RNLI lifeguards are amazing. Was shocked to see that only 200 beaches in the UK have patrols. I can think of 5 here off the top of my head so that must leave a lot of beaches un-patrolled.

I'm not personally RNLI although I have a lot of ties to it, bit old for that but have a nationally recognised beach lifeguarding qualification. My DS' are on their way to being RNLI lifeguards next year fingers crossed.

Yes nobody wants to do a life threatening underpaid seasonal job.
I will never forget being on duty in my student holidays and the sea was exceptionally bad. Red flags up I was shouting through a tannoy not to go into the sea and a charming man told me to fuck off. He then ignored all warnings got into difficulties and I had to go out and help him.
Mixed feelings on that guy!!!

I kind of missed my time to do a life threatening underpaid seasonal job sadly although this year DS1 didn't get a job because there were actually too many applicants so they didn't take the first year qualified kids for once. I was glad of it because, as you know, it's a thankless and dangerous task which could ultimately lead to you having to deal with death on your patrol. Not something you want for your 16 year old if you can help it. Although the pay is way better than minimum wage and the social life worthy of the job alone apparently! Are you UK based?

Cornwall but I just volunteer now, so do beach patrols and will go out if necessary. Clearly the pay has improved and we never seem to have enough people willing to train. Got a !ot of coastline though

Now I want to know what club you are with and if we'll see you at the British champs next year ! We are in West Wales, also lots of lovely coastline

Also just re-read the thread and realised I cross posted with you a couple of times so didn't see your messages, sorry!

No probs
Erm Im based in South West Cornwall, our lifeboat had a terrible disaster in 1981 all crew lost. Last shout yesterday for kayakers.
A family member is crew and couple of weeks ago they got a shout. Pile of clothes found on beach by local person. Alarm raised boats went out plus air sea rescue, searched in the dark for missing person no casualty spotted, then informed by police a twat fancied a walk in the nude !!!!!!!!!. My relative was not happy !

I know Camber well.
Although it looks like a vast expanse of flat sand when the tide is out - it really isn't.

There have always been sandbars.
The tide comes in really quickly and it's very easy to be up to your shins on a sandbar and almost out of your depth as you try to return to the beach.

In some parts the tide seems to come in from the sides as well.
And there is quicksand.

It can be a great beach but you really have to concentrate on the tide to stay safe.

Camber Sands has always been dangerous. The first time I ever saw a report about drownings on the news when I was a kid was at CS and that was years ago.

I will out myself if I say where I was yesterday but a woman (probably around 60), who couldn't swim but was holding onto a boogie board got pulled into the current. She called to my son (who is only 15 but looks older) to help her. He swam to her, couldn't get to her (with me standing on the beach freaking out) and realised that the current was pulling him out too so he swam back to shore. She was saved by lifeguards after being swept further down the coast, still clutching onto her boogie board.

Afterwards, she came over and thanked my son but I was so annoyed that she risked my son's life that I was far from polite. If you can't fucking swim, don't bob around on a boogie board and think you'll be fine. If she had died, my son would have had that on his conscience forever and she was more than old enough to know better. And if you're reading this, I still think you're possibly the most stupid person I've ever met.

I read about the pile of clothes. FFS. Also know about the lost crew, always been involved with the RNLI as a family and now live in a small village where we know all the crew. People don't realise the dedication or dangers they face. Although we seem to currently have more qualified beach lifeguards than needed for jobs so might start an export business to you in Cornwall!

Izzy you might have to start an education service to people visiting, although so many visitors it sounds like an impossible situation to police. So hard when it is accessible to so many people looking for a lovely happy day out without any knowledge of the dangers.

Yes please we need lots of help!! So many things happened here the past couple of weeks. As the saying goes time and tide waits for no man. My dd is also training a!though I hate the idea. The Newquay crew have an 18 year old girl on their watch. What a star having to go on that shout last weekend.
I think crew are seen like emergency services except the latter get paid. The bbc programmes Saving Lives at Sea are excellent and showed that RNLI have families too and also have to scatter ashes of those wishing to buried at sea. Would strongly advise folks to watch them on iPlayer

Another life saved
www.westbriton.co.uk/an-elderly-man-was-rescued-by-lifeguards-after-he-passed-out-in-the-sea-at-sennen-cove/story-29658993-detail/story.html

Well, this is a fantastic thread. Before opening this, I wouldn't have a clue what a riptide looked like.
I've heard of them, but wouldn't have known what to look out for!
Now I do from posts on here and some youtube watching and google image searching.
We like going to the beach in summer, but I can safely say I've never seen lifeguards on the beaches. (UK.) Unless I've been sitting/paddling in the wrong places....

I was staying in camber this week and thankfully wasn't on the beach on Wednesday, but we were on the other days.
Its devastating especially as it was so preventable if they just understood the beach a little better. It lulls you into a sense of security when you see people standing in ankle depth water way out into the water so I can see why they thought they were safe.
When I arrived earlier this week I walked down to the beach in the evening to find out the safest section as i've got young kids and I noticed then that there isn't much in the way of warnings, plus i looked again on the thursday after the drownings and couldn't see any warning or information on the dangers. What does it cost to put a few posts up with information?
I'm quite familiar with this type of beach and have a pretty good respect for the tides and other dangers as we regularly went to this type of beach as kids. However, many people just haven't had that experience and I can see why they just wouldn't perceive the danger.
It was very sad to see the helicopters hovering over the sea while we were having lunch as it was obvious that somebody was in trouble but we didn't imagine it would be so devastating. I'm so glad we weren't on the beach with our young kids to witness it.

was surprised by how comparatively small Bondi beach is. I could be wrong, but it looked loads smaller than Camber...

Bondi is a completely different kind of beach.

Yes, it's smaller. It's in a bay, it slopes towards the sea.

Not a vast strand of flat sand like Camber.

Bondi is a far better swimming beach, in that it gets deep quickly.

It is dangerous because it often has big waves and rip tides and there can be a very strong undertow.

I think it's a beach for strong swimmers too. I've seen a lot of people get into minor difficulties there.

It has lifeguards obviously.

Thanks Portia and MrSlant and all the Camber locals for weighing in. Really informative posts.

So grateful for the RNLI.

Sounds very scary MakeIt. Unbelievably stupid and selfish of that woman. I'm not sure I would have been able to restrain myself if I had to standby and watch one of my DCs risk their life for a total fuckwit. So glad your DS is ok.