Group stranded off Bordeaux were right to get help

Although they were only 50 metres from shore, the coastguard and a former harbour master both praised them for dialling 999 and not attempting to battle the rising tides to make it back to land on Thursday evening.

‘Following this incident, I would urge everyone enjoying our coastline to check the tides before heading out,’ said a Guernsey Coastguard spokesman.

‘What might appear to be an accessible rock or islet can quickly become cut off on a rising tide and in some cases, become entirely covered by water. If the unfortunate happens and you do get into difficulty, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.’

The incident occurred shortly after 6pm, just before a nine-metre high tide, when two 11-year-old children became stranded on Houmet Benes islet, just outside the northern entrance to the harbour.

Two adults waded out to assist them and then became cut off themselves.

At 6.30pm, Guernsey Coastguard received a request to assist police.

Within 10 minutes the inshore life boat was dispatched from St Peter Port, arriving at the scene just 17 minutes after receiving the first call.

Once the stranded people had been located, lifeboat crew took them off the islet and moved them to the slipway at Bordeaux Harbour where they were met by police, with everyone involved described as ‘safe and well’.

The lifeboat returned to St Peter Port shortly after 7.05pm.

Former harbour master and RNLI lifeboat manager, Peter Gill, who lives opposite Bordeaux Harbour, was in no doubt they had done the correct thing by involving the emergency services.

‘You can walk out easily to the islet at half tide,’ he said.

‘But you wouldn’t want them to cross back at high tide as the current goes past at a real rate. They did the right thing in calling it in, especially as there were children involved.’