Southport Lifeboat crew help rescue woman from the tide at Formby.

Southport Lifeboat volunteers were called into action on Friday morning (21 March) after a woman became cut off by the rapidly incoming tide at Taylors Bank, Formby.

Visibility was less than 200 metres due to fog, and with the tide beginning to flood, the woman quickly became disoriented. She managed to call 999, triggering a multi-agency emergency response.

Southport Lifeboat launched immediately, with the Quad and Drone teams deployed to join a coordinated search involving HM Coastguard teams from Crosby, Southport and the Wirral, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Merseyside Police, and Coastguard helicopter Rescue 336.

New Brighton RNLI also launched, and together with Southport Lifeboat began a thorough search directed by Holyhead Coastguard. Search teams worked across the beach, with Southport’s quad bikes focusing on the tideline as the water continued to rise.

Merseyside Police declared a major incident, and Southport ILB was tasked to join the search.

Thankfully, as the ILB made its way to the tideline, news came that after two hours in the water, the woman was located alive by New Brighton Lifeboat just south of Taylors Bank.

Southport Lifeboat crew assisted New Brighton in bringing both boats into shallow water so the casualty could be safely transferred ashore. She was suffering from hypothermia and was placed into a thermal casualty bag before being evacuated by quad trailer to an ambulance waiting at Lifeboat Road.

Nick Porter, Coxswain onboard Southport Lifeboat during the rescue, said: “The woman was incredibly lucky to be found when she was. Visibility was very poor and the tide floods with real speed along this stretch of coast. It only takes a few minutes for a safe situation to become dangerous.

“We were delighted to hear New Brighton had located her alive after more than two hours in the water, but we knew the job was only half done, we had to get her to an ambulance as quickly as possible.

"Thankfully our training paid off, and the transfer from New Brighton’s lifeboat to the waiting ambulance was swift and seamless.

“All the emergency services worked extremely hard together throughout the search, and that teamwork played a major part in ensuring she received the help she needed.”

HM Coastguard Area Commander Michael Buratti added: “I would like to thank our emergency service colleagues and partner agencies who supported the incident and all contributed to it being brought to a safe and positive conclusion.”

He also reminded visitors to the coast to check weather forecasts, tide times and local safety signage before heading out, and to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they or someone else is in difficulty.

Southport Lifeboat would also like to highlight its ongoing #ItsBehindYou campaign, reminding beachgoers to stay aware of the tide’s position and movement at all times.