HM Coastguard Southend said its teams were called to 12 water-related incidents over the Bank Holiday weekend, including three on Saturday and nine on Sunday, with crews spending around seven hours dealing with incidents on Sunday alone. The coastguard said the weekend had been extremely busy because of the large number of visitors heading to Southend seafront as temperatures rose and beach conditions drew crowds to the coast.
According to the spokesperson, Sunday’s incidents involved several “multi dynamic” emergencies, including missing people in the water of different ages and rescuing people who were struggling to stay afloat. The coastguard did not provide full details of each case, but said the response required close cooperation between multiple agencies. It thanked Essex Police, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, RNLI Southend Lifeboat, and HM Coastguard Canvey Island and Dover MRCC colleagues for their help throughout what it described as a continuous series of incidents.
The coastguard also praised members of the public for reporting problems quickly and calling 999 without delay. It said that in water emergencies, “seconds count,” and urged anyone who sees a person in distress to contact emergency services immediately and ask for the Coastguard. The service said that quick reporting can make a critical difference to the outcome of a rescue.
With the Met Office forecasting temperatures of up to 30 degrees, the seafront has been especially busy as people flocked to enjoy the holiday weather. But coastguard officials used the weekend’s incidents to remind beach-goers to remain cautious around the water, especially when conditions are busy and multiple incidents can unfold at the same time.
The service also shared basic safety advice for anyone who finds themselves in trouble in the water. It said people should try to lean back to help stay afloat, move their arms and legs gently, control their breathing, and raise a hand to signal for help. The guidance is intended to help people remain calm until rescuers arrive.
The incidents come as Southend continues to see high visitor numbers during the warm holiday period, with emergency teams on alert for further coastal calls. The coastguard said it had been a demanding weekend for responders, but emphasized that the prompt action of the public and the support of partner agencies helped manage the situation.
