Beach tragedy day after end of lifeguard cover

LIFEGUARD cover at a beach where a mother drowned after being swept out to sea with her two sons was lifted the day before she died, it was confirmed yesterday.

Northcott Mouth, near Bude in Cornwall, a quiet, remote beach, was this year patrolled by lifeguards between 7 July and 2 September, the day before local schools reopened, the RNLI said.

It is thought the woman, believed to have been in her 50s, went into the water to rescue her sons, aged 11 and 13, who had got into difficulties at about 2pm on Monday.

RNLI lifeguard inspector Steve Instance said Northcott was designated for peak-season coverage.

He said: “Lifeguards patrol there in July and August through to the first week of September, when local schools go back. Sunday was the end of the season for that beach.

“It is just unfortunate they have chosen to visit this beach the day after the lifeguards finished for the year. It is a quiet beach.”

The RNLI – which trains and equips lifeguards – said it recommended coverage levels at specific beaches after carrying out a risk assessment, but that the decision was made by the local authority or private beach owners, who paid their wages.

Information on lifeguard cover is displayed in the area.

Mr Instance said four other local beaches, which had more visitors, had lifeguards on duty further into September.

As all the local beaches were linked at low tide, lifeguards from Crooklets beach, a mile and a half away in Bude, raced to the scene as soon as the alarm was raised, Mr Instance said.

The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, and her children where the only people in the water when the tragedy occurred, he added. “We believe that the woman had gone in to rescue the boys,” he said.

A member of the public raised the alarm after one of the boys made it back to shore. The other was rescued by an RNLI lifeboat.