Three young men from London found themselves in difficulty in the sea
We are sure everyone in Camber is aware, there was another tragedy on the evening of 9th August. Three young men from London found themselves in difficulty in the sea and one of them lost their life whilst visiting our beautiful beach.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the young man who died, their family and friends, and also to the beach cleaning team member, all of the emergency services personnel and brave members of the public who tried so very hard to save the lives of these young men.
The rescue and resuscitation response by our emergency services was commendable, with HM Coastguard, Air/Sea Rescue, Pett Level Independent Rescue Lifeboat, Secamb, Sussex Police and Rother District Council working together in a joint operation.
When something like this happens, it has a profound effect on the whole community and, just like the summer of 2016 – which is still fresh in the memory of so many residents – this will surely be another summer season that no one in Camber will ever forget.
Everyone involved will be tackling the complex and conflicting emotions of having successfully saved two lives but having been unable to save the third person.
Camber Beach remains one of the safest beaches in the UK but there is a nationwide deficiency in water safety awareness and education. The RNLI has always encouraged people to use the sea safely – but the sea can be dangerously unpredictable.
The RNLI has provided Lifeguard Services on Camber beach throughout the school summer holiday for the last decade. They advise people ‘to swim between the “safe zone” red and yellow flags’ but, sadly, the service only covers daytime swimming.
The sea is powerful and changeable. Water safely should be on the National Curriculum, alongside road safety and stranger danger. Camber beach has clear warning signs about sand bars and fast incoming tides, and about Lifeguard timings. We can only hope that the advice helps to keep others safe in the water.
