Deadly reminder of the dangers posed by our beautiful coastline

THE very sad story of the teenager who died after venturing into the sea at Llandudno's West Shore last week has highlighted yet again the dangers that our beautiful coastline can present to the unwary.

- Judith Phillips

In my many years as a journalist, I have, unfortunately, had to cover several stories where youngsters have drowned off some of the most innocent-looking beaches.

On a bright, sunny day, the temptation to go for a swim can be very strong, but sometimes weather and tidal conditions can make this treacherous.

And it’s not just swimmers who can be caught out with tragic consequences - so too can paddle boarders and children who venture out on inflatable toys.

When the sun shines, coastguards and the RNLI see an increased demand for their services, and tragically sometimes, as happened last week, the outcome is not what they or the families involved end as they had hoped and prayed for.