Coastguards record busiest weekend in four years

  • Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Kate Prout

Coastguards have recorded the busiest day in four years rescuing people from our coastline.

They say call outs to beaches in Essex and Norfolk were among the highest in the country, mostly to swimmers getting in trouble, missing children and people getting cut off by the tide.

It comes as a dad of seven died after rescuing three of his children when they got into difficulty in the sea while on a family trip to North Wales. Jonathan Stevens was with the youngsters at Barmouth beach when they began to struggle in the water at lunchtime on Sunday (2nd August). The 36-year-old tried to pull his children - who had been caught in the rip tide - to safety.

It is understood Mr Stevens had been in Gwynedd with three of his children, aged between 10 and 12, when the tragedy occured. Credit: BPM

Over the weekend the coastguard and air ambulance were called twice to Mundesley beach in Norfolk. Rescuers also responded to incidents at Clacton beach in Essex including rescuing five people from under the pier

Five people were rescued from under the pier Credit: ITV News Anglia

Visitors have been warned to follow safety guidelines and to stay clear of areas which might pose a risk.

It is believed that because of restrictions on going abroad the region's beaches are even busier than usual.

The RNLI has put out a number of safety videos and lifeguards are patrolling more beaches but they have warned they can't be everywhere.

  • Watch: Jonathan Wills speaks to Phil Norman, from the Maritime and Coastguard agency