Close call

I don't know about you, but every time I see a person, usually a child, carrying an inflatable device, dolphin-shaped or otherwise, toward the beach, I get the distinct feeling that within an hour or so they'll almost certainly be in need of a rescue. Throw in a rigid offshore, and the likelihood of such an event is multiplied ten-fold.

And so, a couple of days ago at Sandsend, off in the distance towards Whitby, and through the binoculars, I noticed our two inflato-equipped sacrificial specimens as they headed into the shore break, which happened to be heffed-up by a solid 25mph offshore. Within seconds they were caught in a rip, shortly followed by a royal swatting from a clean-up set 100m from shore. They simultaneously let go of their inflatable rings, which were quickly swept sea-ward by the wind, and tried to swim against the rip. Cue drowning.

I had my phone at the ready, and when one of them raised a limp arm toward the beach waving frantically, the 999 call was made.

Amazingly, and reassuringly, within four short minutes the Whitby inshore lifeboat crew had scrambled and scooped them up, safe and sound. Amazing really. And damned lucky.

As a surfer, you'll no doubt already be more than aware of the amazing efforts of the RNLI, it's just that it's such an eye opener when you get to see people almost drown – quickly, and effortlessly, it really is that easy.

And without the RNLI them kids'd be dead, simple as that. Good work fellas.