A hovercraft was requested but it turned out the swimmer was fineDan Haygarth Liverpool Daily Post Editor and Regeneration Reporter
19:31, 23 Aug 2025
The Wirral Coastguard team were called out(Image: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team)
Coastguard teams were deployed after receiving a report of concern for a swimmer. Coastguard Rescue Officers were called to Leasowe Bay, Wirral at 7.40pm on Friday before a hovercraft was requested to carry out a search of the water.
Coastguard Officers found a person in a wetsuit leaving the water and walking back to shore. The person was met by the Coastguard team and confirmed they had simply been out for a swim and were not in difficulty.
As a result, the lifeboat and hovercraft were then stood down. However, the teams issued advice to the swimmer to carry a high-vis float so they can be easily identified from a distance.
The Coastguard rescue team also said it is always better to raise the alarm and have their teams check a situation than to do nothing.
In a statement issued yesterday, Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team said: “This evening our team was tasked to reports of a swimmer possibly in difficulty at Leasowe Bay.
“Coastguard Rescue Officers arrived on scene, located the first informant and gathered further information. RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat Station and the RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Stations Hovercraft were also requested to carry out a waterborne search of the area.
“Shortly after, Coastguard Officers observed a person in a wetsuit leaving the water and walking back to shore.
“The individual was met by the Coastguard team and confirmed they had simply been out for a swim and were not in difficulty. Both the lifeboat and hovercraft were then stood down.
“Safety advice was given to the swimmer, including the importance of carrying a hi-viz tow float so they can be easily identified as a swimmer from a distance
“The member of the public who dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard did absolutely the right thing.
“It is always better to raise the alarm and have us check the situation, than to leave it and risk it developing into something much more serious.”
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