Lessons learnt from a tragedy (From Bournemouth Echo)

Lessons learnt from a tragedy

11:28am Thursday 6th September 2012 in Opinion

IT is easy to take them for granted. When they are not needed you barely notice them on the beach.

But if you get into trouble in the water, you certainly know how lifeguards earn their name.

What is so tragic about the drowning of a mother on a quiet beach in Cornwall on Monday is that the lifeguard cover had ended just the day before, because that was when children went back to school.

It was a mercy that Simon Hill, from Wimborne, was on hand to go into the sea to help get one of her sons to safety. And that the boy’s brother was also saved by an RNLI lifeboat But no wonder Mr Hill is traumatised, knowing the episode ended in the most appalling tragedy.

It should be a reminder to us all of how the sea, however enticing it may look, should be treated with utmost caution.

When you get in trouble in a strong tide it is extremely hard to get out unaided.

And it is a reminder of why it is so important to have vigilant lifeguards on the watch wherever people swim.