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Published:
3 September 2006
Coastguard
night search finds lost youngsters next to River Axe
Coastguards
conducted a torch-lit search of the treacherous River Axe estuary
at Brean Down on
Sunday night (September
3rd) after three youngsters dialled 999 after getting lost.
 The
three boys became disorientated in darkness on the southern side
of the River Axe, prompting a search by Burnham-On-Sea and Weston-super-Mare
Coastguards.
The
three - aged 17, 14 and 13 from Bedminster, Bristol - were found
at
around 9pm using
searchlights.
Burnham
Coastguard Officer Steve Bird said: "Incredibly, they had
been told by someone on the beach that the quickest way back to
Weston was by walking across this treacherous river estuary."
"On
reaching the river banks they had become lost and fortunately
noticed the warning signs. They did the correct thing by calling
999 on a mobile phone."
"This
could have been a lot more serious, considering the fast-flowing
currents of the Axe at high tide and the treacherous mud at low
tide. We strongly advise people never to try and cross the river
here."
After being checked over by Coastguards, the youngsters were taken
back to Burnham-On-Sea where arrangements were made to get them
safely home.
The
same spot was at the centre of a major air and sea search in early
August amid concerns that a swimmer had gone missing.
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