Dangerous Tides

The RNLI has issued a warning about the danger of rising tides after a man was rescued from the foot of Saltburn's Huntcliff.

Lifeboat crews found the 48yr old Loftus man, confused and suffering from mild hypothermia, at the base of Huntcliff - trapped with his back to the vertical cliff face by a rapidly rising tide - after he alerted the coastguard. Redcar Lifeboat Station's inshore lifeboat was used to retrieve the man on Saturday afternoon. RNLI spokesman Dave Cammish said: "The Huntcliff coastline can be extremely treacherous. People try to walk round on a fairly decent day from the foot of Huntcliff to Saltburn, but it's very deceptive - it can look as if there's a way around. It's quite easy to get halfway round and find that the path ahead is blocked by the tide and then by turning around and starting to go back, you find it's sneaked up on you again." Anyone walking south along the beach from Saltburn is advised to check tide times before venturing onto rocks or around the cliffs and bays where incoming tides may cut off a return to safety. It is also important to tell others where you intend to go and give an approximate time for return.