Drink-and-drown warning issued to Cornwall on 'Super Saturday'

Coastguard crews are urging football fans not to drink too much

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 3rd Jul 2021

Cornwall's coastguard crews are urging football fans to stay on the ball on so-called Super Saturday.

England face Ukraine in the quarter-finals on Euro 2020 tonight, and police are expecting the pubs to the extremely busy.

Cornish football fans urged to stay safe ahead of England's quarter-final Euros game

But locals and visitors are being urged not to get too close to the sea if they've had a drink while watching the match.

Figures show almost half of those who drown in the UK never intended to be in the water.

"If you're planning on enjoying the #EURO2020 with a drink or two, please stay on the ball when it comes to safety.

"More than 46% of people who drown in the UK never intended to be in the water. Stay safe so you and/or your mates don't become a statistic."

HM Coastguard Area 11 Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Coastal Safety

"With an estimated 30 million of us (RNLI survey) planning on taking a trip to the coast this summer, and with good weather now under way, it’s probably not surprising that there will be incidents and accidents. Some will be sheer misfortune which could happen to even the most experienced of people on the coast, while others could potentially be avoided by following a few simple safety precautions.

"It’s why we’re on call 24/7 as the lead emergency service to help anyone in difficulty around our 11,000-plus miles of coasts (Ordnance Survey)."

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Six top summer safety tips:

Alcohol and the sea don’t mix. If you’re having a glass of something cold, just enjoy the view, not the water

If you get into trouble Float to Live – lie on your back and relax, resisting the urge to thrash about

Don’t take unnecessary risks: leave inflatable toys at home, don’t climb up cliffs, sit too close to them or go near the edges

Visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags

If there’s a free wristband scheme on the beach, do use it

Call 999 in an emergency and ask for the Coastguard

If you see anyone in difficulty around the coast, please don’t get into trouble yourself by trying to help.

The coastguard is fully trained to tackle all circumstances and will be there 24/7.

Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard and they will send all the experts to help. Fast.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.