Safety fears over Blyth Links coastline

Jul 31 2009 by David Black, The Journal

A SEA rescue incident has sparked safety fears at a stretch of Northumberland coastline where £4m is being spent in an attempt to attract more families and visitors.

Money has been poured into upgrading Blyth Links in recent years to provide new beach chalets, a children’s play area, a restored bandstand, public plaza, an amphitheatre and other improved amenities.

Now safety fears for youngsters going into the sea at the increasingly popular stretch of beach have been raised by Dave Veitch, 55, after he helped drag two hysterical teenage girls to safety from the waves last week. Mr Veitch, a residential child care officer of Annitsford, North Tyneside, was visiting the area with his wife Marguerite and their dog when he heard screams coming from a concrete jetty near the beach’s lifeguard tower.

He and another passer-by ran to the end of the jetty where two teenage girls were being pounded by the waves and were unable to get out of the water. Mr Veitch and his co-rescuer managed to pull them both onto the jetty, took them back to their families and helped calm them down.

But he said he was very concerned no lifeguards were on duty at the time, and there was no one else in authority around to lend a hand, despite there being lots of children swimming in the sea and jumping off the jetty.