Toddler drifted out to sea on a Unicorn floaty ..

I think people just don't understand or believe how dangerous the sea is. Even on a calm day the undercurrents can be lethal, the wind can get up in seconds, the tide turn on a sixpence. How dangerous certain sands can be to he point of killing anyone foolish enough to venture onto them regardless of warning notices! The same attitude is taken with rivers! Again currents, wind, hidden weeds, weirs, treacherous mud, all of which seems to be disregarded by a disbelieving public! Inflatables should be banned except for swimming pools and even then surely anyone would keep an eye on toddler or even a bigger child using one?!

Yes, especially at WSM people seem to ignore the markers on the beach which clearly say don't go past a certain point as you get stuck in the mud and will then potentially be in difficulty.

Coastguards don't need it do they?

I understood that a gust of wind blew the inflatable away from the child's father very suddenly Gingster very lucky that she was seen and saved.

That is so sad momb there but for the grace of God etc.

Not quite the same, but during the very hot weather dh and I spent an afternoon at an uncrowded beach (sea was gorgeous!)

However the parents and elder child of a family sitting not far away went off on a paddle board for at least 20 minutes, leaving a little girl who can’t have been more than 3, playing all on her own in the sand.

She didn’t seem at all bothered, but the parents and other child went quite a distance on the p-board.

Unsurprisingly, thoughts of Madeleine McCann were filling my head (never mind any drowning aspect) how could they so heedlessly leave a child so young on her own on the beach? ?

Of course we kept an eye on her, ditto fairly obviously 2 teen girls sitting not far away on the other side. But I’m still bemused at how any parents could be so daft.

That is so sad mombs, and the poor parents.

I think what most people are saying on here is that rocking up at the beach with an inflatable in the first place is stupid.

The other day on the internet I read of two little boys aged 3 and 1 in USA. Their parents thought they were playing in their room. They got into the family car on the drive where it was 57 degrees inside. They both died and were found after a 90 minute interval. So sad.

My father would never ever let us have inflatables, we thought he was mean, but he was absolutely right!

For Heavens sake! Who would let a toddler out of their sight for one second

Someone who’s also looking after a baby at the same time, for example?
Been there, done that.
But judge away, Gingster. None of us know the circumstances do we?

Whilst at a local beach with our granddaughter we watched a couple sit and play on their phones as their children who where tiny dots in the distance played in the surf.
In the end I went with granddaughter and stood near them, they were about 6 and 8.

For Heavens sake! Who would let a toddler out of their sight for one second, let alone on an inflatable in the sea. Words fail me ?‍♀️

It has been said over and over again that inflatables and sea are a very bad combination and extremely dangerous. Why don't people listen?

Inflatables and ANY area of water are a dangerous combination.

There are alternatives. Our youngest grandchildren, aged 4 and 6, spent nearly an hour out on the sea yesterday, sitting on the edge of paddle boards. Great fun, but of course that involves the parents putting in the effort.

I saw that, how alarming Thank goodness she was okay.

I agree with Smileless and Eleothan that people don't listen and heed the warnings but why doesn't common sense come into it anyway!?

Good grief she was nearly a mile away from the beach!

I wonder if she'd even been missed - there's no sign of a rescue helicopter or dinghy.

I'm certain the parent's are suffering with "what ifs .. "

As kids we rented inflatable rafts at the beach to ride the waves- Then by the 80's there were body boards, which are still around today and I think much safer-

But I don't recall any other type of inflatable at the beach when I was a child aside from rafts and beach balls- There were always lifeguards on duty also- They were tall, quarterback sized college guys- They used wooden boats to row out into the ocean to rescue people of they got too far from shore- Otherwise they just swam out-

Lifeguards don't look like that anymore .. ?

Well done to the rescuers. Thank goodness she sat still and didn't panic as she drifted out to sea.

DH was telling me about two little girls who drifted out to sea in Somerset last year. They were on an inflatable swan and the father was holding on to the rope but it slipped out of his grasp and they were blown out to sea too quickly for him to get to them. They were rescued by the RNLI.

Inflatables are dangerous in the sea.

Also agree with Smileless. The sea is not a swimming pool yet people so often treat it as though it was with no regard for treacherous currents ext. A miracle that the little girl was safely rescued.

I agree Smileless. It has been said over and over again that inflatables and sea are a very bad combination and extremely dangerous. Why don't people listen?

Pretty terrifying to watch!

People are being told time and time again that the beach is no place for inflatables. When are people going to take notice.

Kids! You can't take your eyes off 'em for a second.

Poor little lass - thank goodness she was brought to safety.

But rescued