Northumberland tide warning after lifeboats called out twice to stranded groups in matter of days

The RNLI has issued a tide warning for Northumberland after being called out twice in a matter of days to the north coast of the county.

At 13:44 on Sunday afternoon, two adults and a child were reported to be cut off by the rising tide at Budle Bay, just north of Bamburgh, where they were walking across the sand flats.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched and on its arrival, the casualties were seen safely ashore on the beach. The Lifeboat was stood down and returned to the station.

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Budle Bay is part of the Lindisfarne Nature Reserve and its mile-wide expanse of mud flats are exposed at low tide. Emergency services have been called out on several occasions in previous years, with many people getting cut off by the fast-rising tide.

Ian Clayton, of the Seahouses RNLI, said: "While it can be very tempting and enjoyable to walk across the sand flats at places like Budle Bay and Holy Island, we do urge visitors to be careful, as the tide rises quite quickly, and can encircle the unwary. Fortunately, on this occasion, the casualties got ashore safely and unaided."

Budle bay (Newcastle Chronicle)

The callout to Budle Bay comes just days after the fourth callout to the Holy Island Causeway of 2023, when two adults and a child were rescued from their car which was cut off from the tide on Thursday. The group were around 100 metres from the Island side of the refuge box, with the inshore lifeboat once again used, this time to remove the casualties from their car.

Mr Clayton continued: "We can only remind and continue to urge motorists visiting the island, to check and comply with the Safe crossing times at Holy Island, which are posted at each end of the Causeway and available from the County Council website.

"When in any doubt, ask the locals on Holy island in the shops and cafes. If the water has reached the Causeway, do NOT attempt to cross as it can get deep around the centre of the crossing."

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