Two teenagers were rescued after becoming trapped on a rocky ledge with a fast-approaching tide.
Rescuers abseiled down a cliff to reach the boys, who were stuck at Greenaway Beach in Polzeath, Cornwall, as waves swept in at about 18:10 BST on 26 July.
HM Coastguard’s spokesperson has now issued a warning to other swimmers and beachgoers after the incident.
Senior Coastal Operations Officer Robin Snuggs said: “It goes to show how easy it is to be caught out by the tide, particularly if you’re visiting a place you don’t know well and you’re by the cliffs. Tides can come in at different levels on different days.”
Luckily, a member of the public dialled 999 when they spotted the teenagers on the rock.
Rescuers had to “battle large breaking waves and unsteady cliff face as they recovered the boys one by one”, according to HM Coastguard Padstow’s Instagram feed.
Mr Snuggs advised people to check tide times and stay aware of the state of the water. He added that people should be careful around cliffs and carry a mobile phone.
