Warning to respect sea after child rescued at Ilfracombe Harbour

North Devon Council is warning of the dangers of the sea after an incident at Ilfracombe Harbour which saw a child swept into the sea.

The incident took place shortly before 7pm on Thursday, August 3. A group of four children were playing on the pier slipway during high tide when a wave knocked a girl off her feet and swept her between the railings and into the sea.

One quick-thinking member of the public retrieved a lifebuoy while another was able to catch the girl before she was swept further out to sea.

Ilfracombe RNLI responded, providing casualty care to two children before taking them home.

Harbourmaster Georgina Carlo-Paat says: “This incident is a serious reminder of the dangers of tombstoning and other high-risk activities in the harbour. Not only were the youths lucky not to be more seriously injured, they put their lives in danger as well as those of quick-thinking bystanders who acted when they got into trouble.

“The sea conditions were very volatile and all of the youths had been knocked off their feet on the slipway prior to the incident, but still continued to run into surging waves. Thankfully the RNLI were on exercise in the outer harbour at the time and were able to respond very quickly and tended to their injuries before escorting them all home.”

The council is also warning of the dangers of tombstoning at the harbour. A byelaw exists which prohibits people from jumping, diving into and swimming the harbour without permission from the harbour master. This protects people from risks such as altering water depths; submerged objects and rocks, and the strong currents that can rapidly sweep people away.

The penalty for jumping off the harbour can be up to a £1,000 fine upon prosecution.