’Not Worth Risking Your Life for a Selfie’, HM Coastguard Warns After Videos Shared of Person Swept Off Feet by Wave During Storm Ciarán

4th November 2023

Still from a video shared on social media of a woman being swept off her feet by a wave on Whitby’s East Pier in the UK

The UK’s coastguard has warned the public to take safety at the water seriously after videos were shared online of people walking into danger on Whitby’s East Pier as Storm Ciarán lashed the country this week.

As Marine Industry News reports, one video showed a woman being swept off her feet by a wave that crashed across the pier, which was since temporarily closed to public access.

In a statement, Steve Hart, senior coastal operations officer for HM Coastguard said: “Our advice is if there is a storm weather warning in place and if you don’t need to travel, just stay in.

@coffeemad74 the stupidity of some people baffles me. #respectnature #stupidpeople ♬ original sound - itsonlyme

“It’s not worth risking your life for a picture or a selfie and it’s not worth risking our volunteers lives either, who would potentially have to go out on a rescue and pull you out of the water.”

Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.

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