County lifeboat crews face surge of emergencies as crowds flock to coast

Terrified occupants were trapped inside a sinking car as the tide surged around them in one of several dramatic seaside rescues over the weekend.

- by Gayle Rouncivell

The incident was one of a series of emergencies that kept Morecambe's RNLI volunteers busy from Friday to Sunday, as soaring temperatures brought thousands to the coast - leaving lifesavers scrambling to keep up.

The dramatic rescues began with crews scrambled to help with an overturned fishing boat.

Volunteers assessed the situation, checking for any individuals who might still be aboard and retrieving gill nets that were floating about half a mile offshore, which posed a hazard to passing ships.

Next, they responded to a report of two people in distress on an inflatable raft drifting near the River Keer, but as they were en route, they received word that they had managed to reach shore with the assistance of a passerby who stepped in to help.