As Easter sees the start of the summer 'season' on the Norfolk coast, a busy lifeboat crew is issuing safety advice to help people avoid being cut off by the tide.
The shoreline between Hunstanton and Wells features some of the county's most picturesque beaches.
To ensure a safe an enjoyable visit, Hunstanton RNLI is warning people of the dangers of venturing out too far at low water, with the risk of being stranded as the tide turns.
The danger is most acute during high spring tides - when the sea goes out much further, revealing wide expanses of sand, but comes back in much faster.
Low-lying gullies in areas such as Holme, Thornham, Titchwell and Brancaster can quickly fill with fast-flowing water.
The large tidal range of the sea off west and north Norfolk also means the incoming tide can travel at well over walking pace.
Hunstanton RNLI water safety lead Kate Craven said: 'We're blessed by our beautiful coast, but danger also lurks on even the sunniest of days, when it's so tempting to walk all the way across the sands to the sea.
'We'd urge anyone thinking of visiting any tidal area to check the tide times before they do so and ensure they have enough time to get off the beach safely, before the incoming tide cuts them off.
'Sadly 250 people drown every year around the UK coastline, half of whom did not even intend to get wet.'
Tide times are easy to check online by just entering tide times for [location] into your web browser, or going to the Met Office website and searching for the weather forecast for the area you plan to visit.
Hunstanton is one of the region's busiest RNLI stations, which operates both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and the search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.
Many of the 40 or so launches it performs each year are carried out to people who have found themselves cut off by the tide.
Its lifeboat operations manager Mike Gould said: 'Always have your mobile phone with you and ensure it's charged before you visit just in case.
'If you see someone in danger, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you find yourself cut off, do the same and don't try to wade across any gullies or creeks filling with water.'
During one of their most recent rescues, the Hunstanton crew launched their hovercraft to the aid of three people who had found themselves cut off at Gore Point, near Holme as a tidal creek filled up behind them.
Two of the trio did not even realise they had become cut off - let alone found themselves in danger - before the 'hover crew arrived to bring them safely back to shore.
Notes to Editors
RNLI rescue data shows that lifeboat crews and lifeguards responded to 7,971 incidents across the UK and Ireland involving people cut off by the tide over the last decade. Of those incidents, many were considered life-threatening, and more than 450 lives were saved.
A survey carried out for the charity by Bangor University highlights large gaps in tidal knowledge.
The nationwide research revealed around 15% of respondents reported either being cut off by the tide, or nearly cut off which equates to 10m people in the UK and Ireland.
One key finding of the survey was the level of surprise about the speed of the incoming tide. Around 60% of those who had experienced tidal cut off were shocked at the speed they had become stranded.
The research also showed that four in 10 people have no basic understanding of the tides and only half claim to check tide times before visiting a beach.
It further reveals that just 24% of the public know how to read and interpret a tide timetable in order to avoid being cut off.
You can find out more about the Bangor University survey
here.
RNLI Media Contacts
For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.
