Lifeguards pick a five and six-year-old from sea as mother goes shopping

by Karl Walderman. Published Mon 01 Jun 2009 16:15

Two young boys were minutes from drowning in the sea off the coast of West Kirby after their mother left them alone while she went shopping.

The un-named youngsters aged five and six had to be plucked from neck-high seawater by lifeguards at Hilbre Island as they paddled in the blazing sun on Saturday afternoon.

The rescue team then watched over the shaken boys until their mother returned from the shops situated about half a mile from the beach.

Hilbre Island is well known for its dangerously fast rising tide which results in members of the public only being allowed to cross the waters from West Kirby to Hilbre twice a day.

Chief lifeguard Tony Jones said: "The boys were left unattended on a beach at the far side of the island.

"One of the lifeguards on duty found them up to their necks in water as the tide was coming in.

"Their mother had cleared off and left them.

"The boys were shocked but unharmed by the ordeal which could have been far worse if not for the intervention of the lifeguard team.

"When the mother returned and we spoke to her, she didn’t take it too kindly but the fact she left young children on the beach while she went to shops speaks for itself."

A Spokesman for Wirral council said: "The lifeguards do not take names and details of people they help so the police probably are not involved.

"What she did was very dangerous but luckily no one was hurt this time."

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