Two people stranded between Little Eye and Middle Eye were brought ashore by West Kirby's lifeboat on Saturday. Neither needed medical help. The crew says allow three hours before high tide.

West Kirby’s lifeboat brought two people back to shore on Saturday after the rising tide cut them off between Little Eye and Middle Eye. The water had already reached their ankles. Neither needed medical attention.

Overview

  • When: HM Coastguard tasked the West Kirby RNLI crew at 12.01pm on Saturday 14 November.
  • Where: between Little Eye and Middle Eye, two of the Hilbre islands off West Kirby.
  • Outcome: both people were brought ashore safely by the station’s D class lifeboat. A third person who raised the alarm made their own way back and was found safe and well.
  • The crew’s advice: check the tide times, and allow at least three hours before the next high tide to get back to West Kirby.

What happened

The two were in contact with the Coastguard and the lifeboat station while the crew launched. They were guided towards higher ground on the rocks between the islands, which kept them out of the water until the boat arrived. The RNLI gives this account in its release on the rescue.

While the lifeboat was on its way, the Coastguard had a second report, of a third person on Little Eye. That person had raised the alarm about the first two and had managed to get back to shore. Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team and the lifeboat crew both made contact with them and confirmed they were safe and well.

The D class lifeboat, Leonard Pownall, then reached the pair and brought them back to shore. The Coastguard team met them there and gave them safety advice.

Andy Brown, West Kirby RNLI’s Launch Authority, said being able to talk to the pair made the difference. “Communication with the casualties meant we were able to guide them towards higher ground and away from the rising water,” he said. That “bought valuable time for the lifeboat crew to respond, locate the casualties and prevented the situation from becoming more serious.”

What it means for you

If you plan to walk out to Hilbre:

  • Check the tide times first. Wirral Council’s Hilbre Islands page links to the BBC tide table for Hilbre, and the times are also posted on the noticeboard at Dee Lane, West Kirby.
  • Allow at least three hours before the next high tide to get back, the lifeboat crew says.
  • Leave time for the walk itself. The council says the recommended safe route takes between 45 minutes and an hour.
  • If you or someone else gets into trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. “The water can rise and surround you much more quickly than you might expect,” Mr Brown said. “If in doubt, call 999 and get us out.”