Busy day for Southport Lifeboat crew.

A spokesperson for Southport Rescue commented...

A busy day for our volunteers saw the first tasking arrive at 13:10 to search for a missing 5-year-old on Formby Beach. Our quad bikes made way to Formby while the ‘Heather White’ launched at Southport. A search was established when, soon-after, information was received that the child had been located and our units were stood down.

Our crew had just finished washing down from the first incident, before a second tasking at 15:46 to a missing child on Ainsdale Beach called upon our quad bikes and Artic lifeboat once again. As our units arrived on scene, the child had been located by lifeguards and our assets were stood down.

Our last tasking of the day occurred at 22:22 to two teenagers attempting to walk to Blackpool. Our quads and UAS (drone) proceeded to Rainford’s Track to commence a search. Southport Mobile, who had already arrived on scene, located the casualties and escorted them back to the Coastal Road.

We would like to remind beachgoers that, although Blackpool appears close, it is absolutely not possible to walk from Southport to Blackpool. A series of dangerous channels, and their conduits, along with soft sand and mud, lie north of Southport Pier. North of Southport Beach lies the River Ribble, one of the fastest flowing rivers in the country, which is not passable on foot.

Remember to always check the tide times before you enter the beach. If #ItsBehindYou, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.