While inflatables can be great in the pool, they can be very dangerous at the seaside when offshore winds can carry inflatables out to see very quickly.
The warning comes after Barry Dock RNLI’s volunteer crew rescued two people who had drifted 2.5 miles in just 25 minutes thanks to the lethal combination of wind, the tides and the Bristol Channel’s brutal currents.
Barry Dock RNLI has emphasised that they want everyone to enjoy the beach safely, so the best thing to do is leave the inflatables at home.
A spokesperson said: “Heading to the beach this week? The weather looks a bit changeable so please think carefully before taking inflatables into the sea.
“Inflatable toys are great fun in the pool, but at the coast they can quickly become dangerous.
“Even on a calm, sunny day, offshore winds can carry inflatables out to sea very quickly.
“Just last week, our volunteer crew rescued 2 people who had drifted 2.5 MILES in just 25 minutes so the combination of the wind, the tides and the currents in the Bristol Channel can be brutal.
“Our volunteer crew at Barry Dock RNLI want everybody to enjoy the beach safely so when it comes to inflatables, the safest option is to leave them at home and enjoy the beach without them”.
If you see anyone getting into trouble in the water, ring 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
