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Parents of teenage girl who died swept out to sea: "youngsters should respect the water"

The parents of a teenage girl, who died after being swept to sea in North Tyneside, are warning of the dangers the water can present.

15 year old Caitlin Ruddy was washed off North Pier, at Cullercoats, in January this year, by a large wave. She died shortly afterwards in hospital.

Now her mother Sabrina Cook, and step-father Ashley Cook, are backing an RNLI campaign called Respect The Water.

Credit: ITV Tyne Tees
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The RNLI is aiming to reduce the number of coastal deaths which, nationally, reached a 3 year high of 168 people in 2015.

Caitlin's parents say they're grateful to the work the RNLI do.

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RNLI issue warning on being trapped by tide at Saltburn

Families walk on Saltburn Pier during hot weather at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire. Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Archive/
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Redcar RNLI have issued a bank holiday warning about the perils of being trapped by the tide at Saltburn.

Already in 2016 there have been four emergencies at Huntcliff, involving 10 people, who have found themselves cut off by the rising tide.

Dave Cocks, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Redcar RNLI says:

We have a beautiful stretch of coastline here and it’s great to see the beaches full of people having fun.

But it’s no fun finding yourself trapped, cold and wet, by the relentless approach of the tide. Once you are pinned against the base of the cliffs, there’s nowhere to go. You will need to be rescued, and you have to raise the alarm early.

The most common time to be cut off at Huntcliff is about three hours after the tide has started to come in. That also means there’s another three hours of rising tide to come, and that is obviously going to have serious consequences."

– Dave Cocks, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Redcar RNLI

The RNLI offers the following advice to anyone using the beach:

  • Check the tide times before you venture out to place where you could get trapped.
  • Always look for areas of the beach patrolled by lifeguards. Look for the yellow and red flags.
  • Never swim on your own. Always have someone with you who can raise the alarm.
  • If you go on the sea in any sort of craft, always wear a lifejacket.
  • If you get into difficulties, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard. Stay calm and stay on the line. Otherwise, raise your arm in the air and shout for help.
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