Four West Kirby lifeboat taskings in four days around the islands

What happened. The RNLI report covers four tasks for the West Kirby crew in the late May half-term week of 2026.

• Thursday 28 May: two people who had walked out towards the islands were cut off by the tide. Unaware the tide was coming in, they tried to return to shore, then waded back through the rising water to Hilbre Island. The D class lifeboat brought them cold and wet back to shore and handed them to the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team.
• Friday 29 May: the crew gave medical support to a casualty on the beach alongside the RNLI lifeguards. Later that day, as many people were spread across the islands and shoreline while the tide rose, the crew took part in a multi-agency search and welfare check. No one was found in danger, and people were advised about the tide.
• Sunday 31 May: three people were reported possibly cut off between Middle Eye and Hilbre Island. They had decided to stay on Middle Eye until the tide went out. The lifeboat searched the area to check that nobody else was in danger.

The station’s lifeboat operations manager asked visitors to park only where it is allowed and to keep launch sites and emergency routes clear, because blocked access can delay a launch. He also asked people to check the tide times before visiting the islands, and to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see someone in difficulty.

The lesson for walkers. Wading back through a rising channel is the wrong response to a flooding tide. Staying over high water is not recommended either, and it can lead to a call-out even if you are fine. Plan to be off the sands within the calculated window, check the safety guide, and see how the window is calculated before you set out. The calculated window for today is an estimate, not permission to cross.