Beach-goers are again being warned that they must exercise caution after lifeboat crews in Northumberland prevented two near-tragedies over the bank holiday weekend. Lifeboat coxswain John Connell urged bathers to have greater awareness of the dangers at sea: ‘Every year around the coast people get into difficulties and not every incident has a happy ending like these do’.

The first incident involved an entire family who became stranded on Holy Island causeway after attempting to cross outside of safe crossing times in their car. Two adults and three children were safely rescued, bringing the total number of people rescued from the causeway this year to 20.

Further down the coast at Amble, quick-thinking onlookers helped save the lives of two young boys blown out to sea on an inflatable dinghy. The pair, aged 11 and 13, were playing near Low Hauxley caravan park when they were caught by off-shore winds. As the dinghy was carried several hundred yards out to sea. worried on-lookers contacted the rescue services, and both Amble lifeboats were launched. Both boys were treated for hypothermia by the lifeboat crew and kept for a short time in Wansbeck hospital before being reunited with their families.