People asked to stay out of sea during lockdown

Emergency services are still pleading with keen beachgoers to steer clear of the sea.

Authorities have reinforced warnings that those still insisting on taking part in water sports may put themselves and emergency services in danger with their actions.

This follows a bank holiday weekend in which “strong words” of warning were issued to paddle boarders, kayakers and a late-night scuba diver as they took to the water off the Brighton and Hove coast, according to The Argus.

With incidents such as these continuing, HM Coastguard released a cautionary message in an attempt to keep people away from the water.

A spokesman said: “The coast is clear, but don’t be tempted. Keep your beach gear at home with you to protect yourself, the emergency responders and the NHS, who’d have to come to your aid if it went wrong. Stretch your legs, not our resources.”

Ahead of the break, Brighton and Hove City Council had urged people not to go in the sea amid the coronavirus crisis lockdown, as well as asking residents not to meet up with friends or sunbathe on the beach to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Council leader Nancy Platts urged visitors to stay away from Brighton, according to The Argus, and says: “Last weekend so many people were on our seafront and beaches that at times it became impossible to maintain safe social distancing. I know these messages may sound draconian, but we need to keep ourselves and everyone around us safe.”

Though patrolling police officers still had to move some people along who were sitting and sunbathing, the city’s seafront saw a marked improvement with drone footage showing an almost deserted beach on Saturday afternoon.

But some continued to make a beeline for the seafront. Crews from Shoreham Coastguard, who have been assisting Sussex Police with keeping Brighton and Hove beachfront clear, detailed their encounters.

One crew member says: “We were out again supporting Sussex Police, with people on the beach and promenade not observing the exercise only (social distancing guidelines).

“We’ve moved a few along and even someone out in an inflatable kayak.

“Don’t catch it, don’t spread it, stay at home.”

Meanwhile, Newhaven Coastguard had an even more bizarre encounter. Concerned crews were called to Brighton Palace Pier at 10pm on Saturday evening to reports of “lights in the water”, only to find a scuba diver had been indulging in a spot of fishing, according to The Argus.