INFLATABLE MADNESS

HM Coastguard say hundreds of children enjoying the heatwave have been plucked to safety after being swept out to sea on inflatables over the weekend.

Emergency services were inundated with reports of youngsters getting into trouble after taking to the water on dinghies.

Coastguards dealt with 359 incidents on Saturday and Sunday, making it their busiest weekend of the year.

One child was taken to hospital in Ashford, Kent, after nearly drowning following an accident on an inflatable.

Elsewhere lifeguards rescued two children who drifted offshore on an inflatable at Wellington pier, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, while coastguards saved a nine-year-old who went missing on a sailboard from Llandanwg beach, in Gwynedd, Wales.

A spokeswoman for the Marine and Coastguard Agency said they are concerned that if the heatwave continues a record number of children will get into trouble this year.

Peter Brown, the deputy watch manager with Solent Coastguards, said they had received numerous reports of incidents involving inflatables since the start of the hot weather.

He added: "It only takes a sudden gust of wind or a change in the tide and the fun toys start to carry the youngsters into extreme danger.

"It's something that happens every year but has been even worse this summer because of the fine weather. This is a tragedy waiting to happen."

The MCA has launched a Sea Smart campaign, urging everyone using inflatables to tie them to the shore and to check the weather and tides before going to the beach.