Three people who used a tidal app to guide their walk had to be rescued after becoming waist-deep in water.
Emergency services were called out to Silverdale yesterday, Sunday February 2, to rescue the walkers and their two dogs, trapped by a huge and fast-moving 10m tide.
Bay Search & Rescue said: “They trusted an internet tidal app for Silverdale. Unfortunately this app gave the location for Silverdale Portland USA but did not state that, only when we questioned the latitude and longitude did the location become clear, but by then it was too late, they were waist deep in a fast moving tide.
“Thankfully crews from Arnside & South Lakes Coastguard Rescue Team and their lightning fast jet ski, Bay Search & Rescue and Morecambe RNLI’s lifeboat were swiftly in attendance with the jet ski crew taking the three people and two dogs to the shore and handed them over to trained medics from Bay Search & Rescue.
“They spent some considerable time warming up and drying out in our 4×4, suffering from hypothermia and shock of their near miss ordeal before later being handed over to the North West Ambulance Service.”
Bay Search & Rescue said it has placed signs on the Silverdale coastline which have a QR code on them which if used with a smartphone camera give accurate tide times at the nearest port, which is Heysham.
Thanks to financial support in 2025 from the Furness Building Society several more signs will appear around our area in Grange, Sandside and Arnside, the team said.
Bay Search & Rescue added: “Great responses from the Bay’s amazing volunteer rescue teams, and thanks to our own crew who looked after the very cold and wet casualties before handing them over to the ambulance service.”
On Saturday, Bay Search & Rescue was called out after a person and three dogs were cut off by the tide.
The team said: “She had slightly misjudged the swollen gullies as the tide reached its maximum height and sensibly didn’t risk jumping it with her dogs in tow.
“Working with Arnside & South Lakes Coastguard Rescue Team, Bay Search & Rescue Team crew quickly inflated the two air pathways and positioned them with the Coastguard team across the deep gully making a safe walkway for the woman and the three dogs to make their way back just 50 metres or so to hard standing.
“Thanks to the crew for their rapid response and also to the Coastguard officer for his excellent traffic management on the busy road, while we transported kit to the shore.
