THE Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as members of the National Beach Safety Council, have issued a stark warning to beach users: DON'T take inflatable toys, airbeds and rubber dinghies into the sea this summer.
Every year there are about 80 fatalities on the UK's beaches, including a number of children who are blown out to sea while playing with inflatable toys.
In an effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths, the RNLI's beach safety manager, Steve Wills, said: "Inflatable toys can be great fun in a pool, but we strongly advise you not to use them in the sea.
He said: "One particular danger is where a wind blowing off the land makes the sea look calm, flat and apparently safe, but it can actually sweep an inflatable - along with your child - out to sea very swiftly.'
Updated: 10:43 Tuesday, July 29, 2003
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