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News articles, rescue reports, and safety warnings related to Hilbre Island crossings
Tide-related call-outs on this stretch of coast with a public RNLI or Coastguard report. Each one is a group who thought they had time.
A man and two dogs cut off on the North Bank sandbank by a flooding tide; the lifeboat, already out on exercise, reached them in about ten minutes.
New Brighton RNLI report →Three people reported cut off between Middle Eye and Hilbre were found safe, waiting on Middle Eye for the tide.
West Kirby RNLI report →A multi-agency welfare check on several groups still heading out to the islands on a flooding tide, in a run of four taskings in four days.
West Kirby RNLI and Hoylake RNLI hovercraft report →Two people cut off walking out to the islands waded back to Hilbre and were brought ashore cold and wet by the lifeboat.
West Kirby RNLI report →Two people stuck in mud on the North Bank, one in an electric wheelchair with the water already over its wheels, recovered by hovercraft.
Hoylake RNLI hovercraft, Wirral and Flint Coastguard, fire service report →Two people and a dog cut off between Middle Eye and Little Eye on the way back from Hilbre, taken off by the lifeboat; the Coastguard said that had they tried to move they could have entered fast-flowing deep water.
West Kirby RNLI, Wirral Coastguard and a Coastguard helicopter report →Hand-maintained from rnli.org station news and HM Coastguard posts, so it will lag the real count and misses call-outs that were never written up. Know of one we've missed? Send us the link.
On the evening of 28 June 2026, a 999 call reporting what appeared to be an arm in the River Mersey near Egremont launched a multi-agency search involving the Coastguard, fire, police and ambulance services. It turned out to be an upturned garden chair — and, as the team stressed, the caller did exactly the right thing.
Read our report →A rescue operation was launched by West Kirby RNLI after someone became stranded by the rising tide at dusk. The individual called 999 and was safely retrieved by the lifeboat crew.
Read full article →In September 2025, West Kirby RNLI launched to assist two people cut off by a fast-flooding tide between Little Eye and Middle Eye. They were surrounded by deep water and brought aboard the lifeboat and returned to Sandy Lane slipway for safety and warming up.
Read full article →Two people on pedal bikes became stranded by the rising tide while returning from Hilbre Island. The West Kirby RNLI and Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team responded and brought them back to shore.
Read full article →Following a rescue incident, local authorities and the RNLI issued warnings about the importance of checking tide times before attempting to cross to Hilbre Island.
Read full article →ITV News reported on a dramatic rescue by West Kirby lifeboat in the Hilbre area, using it to highlight how quickly tides can cut off walkers and the importance of checking tide times.
Read full article →