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Five Children Rescued From Red Flag Area Of Ryde Beach

Five children have been rescued from the sea in Ryde this afternoon (Friday).

Ryde beach lifeguards (RBLG) were called to rescue the children from the Red Flagged area of the beach earlier today.

HM Coastguard and Ambulance Service also attended the scene, with all of the children subsequently taken to St Mary's Hospital by family members and medical teams to ensure they didn't suffer secondary drowning as they had swallowed water.

A spokesperson for RBLG said:

"We cannot reiterate enough that NOBODY should swim in Ryde Harbour, nor should they swim by the harbour rocks.

"It is Red Flagged because there is a strong current that will pull swimmers out to sea and towards the pier.

"There are plenty of safe areas of the beach to swim and enjoy the water safely.

"Please swim between the Red and Yellow Flags."

The incident was followed an hour later by a group of boys jumping and diving from the harbour wall into the shallow water.

They were subsequently moved on by the lifeguard team.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard added:

"Lifeguards, the RNLI and a Coastguard Rescue Team responded to the call shortly after 12pm, with all children making it to shore – three by themselves, and one with the assistance of a member of the public.

"One child from the first group required a medical check and was taken to hospital by a family member."

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