Wirral Council make urgent plea after lifesaving equipment vandalised along coastline

Safety equipment being tampered with, vandalised – or, in some cases, even stolen – is putting lives at risk along the Wirral coastline.

In the latest incident at the weekend, a group of young people were reported to have removed a number of buoyancy rings – which are just one type of lifesaving equipment placed at strategic locations along Wirral’s waterfront to aid in an emergency – and set them on fire.

Responding to the reports on the evening of Sunday June 21^st, one of the council’s Community Safety Officers found that in addition to the rings being tampered with, two rope ladders – which can be used to help someone in difficulty during high tides climb clear of the water – were also found to be missing.

Cllr Jenny Johnson, Chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee for Wirral Council, said:

“It is staggering that there are those in our community who are willing to put other people’s lives directly at risk. I can’t think of a single excuse why anyone would want to damage or steal this equipment, which is there to protect the public and save lives.

“Such actions could have deadly consequences – the equipment is there so that anyone can literally throw someone a lifeline should they get themselves into difficulty in the water. This immediate help can often be the difference between life and death whilst emergency services get to the scene.”

Michael Buratti, Area Commander for HM Coastguard, added:

“I am extremely disappointed to see continued incidents of vandalism involving life rings along our coastline, this type of behaviour is reckless.

“Life rings are not decorative items, they are essential lifesaving pieces of equipment that are placed at key locations to be used in an emergency. When a life ring is damaged, removed or tampered with, it may not be there for someone who genuinely needs it, and that could have devastating consequences.

“In a coastal emergency, there is often no time to find an alternative. Immediate access to a life ring can make a critical difference in keeping someone afloat until help arrives. Vandalising this equipment is not a harmless act, it puts lives at risk, including members of the public and those of emergency responders who may be required to enter the water unnecessarily.”

Life rings, ropes, ladders and other safety equipment are placed in various locations around the Wirral coastline, but particularly along the eastern/Mersey side of the borough.

The Mersey Estuary is notoriously hazardous, featuring the third-fastest tidal run in Europe with speeds reaching up to 10 knots. The estuary’s narrow mouth causes a severe ‘bottleneck’ effect, meaning the incoming tide can rise drastically in under three hours and create trouble for even the most prepared coastal walkers or experienced swimmers, let alone just someone using the beach for leisure.

The latest incident comes shortly after similar criminal damage was reported by the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team on their Facebook page in May. On that occasion they showed a photograph of two life rings left on the beach having been set on fire rendering them unusable.

Find out more on the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team website.

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