Children drift out to sea in inflatable pool off Barry

It was described how the kids were clinging to the pool, which had burst and deflated in a tidal flow.

One of the children attempted to swim back to shore and was later located on the shoreline.

The incident happened in Barry, between Cold Knap and Friars Point, yesterday evening, July 24.

A spokesperson for Barry Dock RNLI said they were supported by colleagues at Barry Coastguard.

The spokesperson said: “The inshore lifeboat was launched to reports of four children in an inflatable swimming pool drifting out to sea between Cold Knap and Friars Point. 

“With an incoming tide travelling at three knots per hour up the channel, our inshore lifeboat made best speed. 

“On arrival, mid-way between Cold Knap Point and Friars Point, the three children were clinging to the inflatable pool, which had by now burst and deflated, caught in the tidal flow, with the fourth child attempting to swim back to shore.

“The three children were taken aboard the lifeboat, given a survival blanket for warmth with casualty care undertaken to ensure all were well. 

“The fourth child was located safe and well on the shore-line.

“All four children, cold and wet, were handed over into the care of our colleagues at Barry Coastguard, with our lifeboat returning to station to be made ready for service again.”

The four children drifted to sea on an inflatable pool (Image: Barry RNLI)

Barry RNLI and Coastguard were called (Image: Barry RNLI)

A spokesperson for Barry Coastguard added: “Our team were paged to four children drifting in an inflatable off Friars Point.

“The lifeboat made best speed to the area and found three children in a deflated inflatable and one trying to swim back, while we provided safety cover.

“Once all children were recovered, they were brought to shore, where our team checked they were ok and contacted their parents.”

The children were all rescued (Image: Barry RNLI)

The coastguard added a severe warning at the end of their statement, saying: “Never go out to see in inflatable items, and always know where your children are.

“Huge thank you to all the members of the public who rang 999 and asked for the Coastguard.”