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A leisure chief has issued an urgent warning to those
taking a dip in the sea at Tendring's Coastal resorts after two
near drowning incidents in the past week.
Tendring District Council's Beach Patrol Teams are concerned
that in the latest incident a 22-year-old man ignored a red flag
flying from Clacton's West Beach - warning that it was unsafe to
swim.
He was rescued by Senior Seafront Warden Jon Shipman and Beach
Patrol Steve Duggan and taken to Colchester General Hospital by
Ambulance.
It has since been revealed that the man - who was on a day trip
from Colchester - had entered the water despite the warning flag
being flown.
Pierre Oxley, TDC's Portfolio Holder for Leisure, said he was
appalled that the man put himself - and those who rescued him - at
risk when it was obvious he should not have been in the sea.
"The signs and flags are not there to prevent people having fun
- this is a serious matter and it could be a matter of life or
death," he said.
"Two men have come close to losing their lives in the past week
and had it not been for the excellent work of the team we could be
looking at a tragedy."
Cllr Oxley said that with the school holidays now getting under
way the beaches will be busy and he pleaded with everyone to take
note of any warning given out by the Beach Patrol Teams.
"They are there to help ensure that everyone - whether they are
visitors or residents - makes the most of the beaches, but does so
safely and returns home afterwards," he said.
"The very least people can do is heed the warnings. If the team
put the red flag up it really does mean that it is not safe to
enter the water."
Cllr Oxley also advised people to speak to the team if they were
unsure about anything related to safety in the beach area.
There are teams located at Clacton's West Beach, Frinton Beach
and at Walton's Albion Beach.
In the photo, left to right, is Tim Sutton (Seafront Manager),
Steve Duggan (Beach Patrol), Jon Shipman (Seafront Warden),
Michelle Pointing (Seafront Warden), Mark Thompson (Seafront
Warden). |