Marine Unit rescues kitesurfer and issues vital water safety warning

After rescuing a kitesurfer who got into difficulty, our Marine Unit is urging anyone who goes out on the water to check tides, weather and wind speeds beforehand.

Marine officers were returning from a patrol yesterday, 28 May, when they spotted the kitesurfer in the sea off Frinton.

He had been unable to relaunch his kite on the water after the wind dropped, explains Sergeant Alex Southgate.

Fortunately, the officers, who had been out on an Operation Wave-Breaker patrol on their rib, Sentinel, were quickly able to assist the stricken kitesurfer and get him and his equipment back to the safety of the beach.

Alex says: 

“We’re glad we were able to help and prevent what could have been a much more serious situation from developing.
“We urge anyone heading out on the water to wear appropriate safety gear, check the weather and local tide times before setting off, and keep an eye on conditions while you’re out.
“If you’re riding a personal watercraft, then you also need to be familiar with all the controls and make sure you’re aware of local byelaws and speed limits, too.
“And always make sure you know what to do in an emergency. If you spot anyone in difficulty in the water at the seaside, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

The team were out patrolling the coastline between Bradwell and Harwich yesterday, keeping an eye on some of the thousands of visitors enjoying the half-term sunshine on our beaches at Clacton, Frinton and Walton.

They also dropped in at Harwich’s Ha’penny Pier where they spoke to members of the public about water safety and their role in keeping all water-users safe and preventing anti-social behaviour on the water.

Two young children stepped aboard Sentinel, their rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rib, to have a look round.

Our marine officers were returning to Sentinel’s berth at Bradwell Marina when they spotted the kitesurfer – about 100m from the shore.

They’ll be out on patrol this weekend so if you see them, do stop to say hello.

Our Marine Unit launched Operation Wave-Breaker in 2021 to tackle anti‑social behaviour in the water along our coastline.

Focusing on the use of personal watercraft and small vessels, Op Wave-Breaker combines high‑visibility patrols, education and, where necessary, enforcement to promote water safety and ensure compliance with local water byelaws and speed limits.

Our operation is adopted as national best practice by the College of Policing.

• Check out our Marine Unit webpages where you can read the PWC Code of Conduct