RNLI rescue
Two walkers and a dog rescued between Middle Eye and Little Eye
They were cut off as the tide rose quickly between the islands and were brought ashore by West Kirby lifeboat.
What happened. On Saturday 7 February 2026, West Kirby RNLI volunteers were paged at 12.50pm to reports of two people and a dog stuck between Middle Eye and Little Eye. The D class lifeboat launched. HM Coastguard stayed on the phone to one of the casualties, who had dialled 999 and kept the line open with updates until help arrived. The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team, HM Coastguard Crosby and a Coastguard Rescue Helicopter were also sent. The lifeboat crew found the group cold and shaken but uninjured, and they were brought ashore without needing medical treatment.
The station’s lifeboat operations manager said the tide can very quickly catch people out with the speed and direction it comes in. The group had checked the times before setting out but misjudged their return. His advice was to leave the islands no later than three hours before the next high tide.
The lesson for walkers. The RNLI figure is a latest time, not a target. WalkHilbre applies the guidance cautiously: the calculated window closes 3.5 hours before the next high water, and we treat that as the latest time to be back on the mainland at Dee Lane. The leave-by time shown on the site allows 60 minutes for the walk back from Hilbre. Start back well before it. If you are cut off, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard, as the casualty did here.
More on the guidance.
- Safety guide: the route and what to do if you are cut off.
- How the crossing window is calculated: the rule behind the 3.5 hour limit.
- Today’s calculated window: an estimate, not permission to cross.
This is a summary in our own words. We link to the original and never publish names or details of the people involved.