Father and son rescued from sinking sandbank at Northumberland beauty spot
Last updated 12th Oct 2026
A father and son have been rescued after becoming stranded on a sandbank at a Northumberland beauty spot.
The pair had been attempting to return to shore around 1pm yesterday (Sunday) when they became cut off by the rising tide at Budle Bay, and retreated.
The Seahouses and Howick Coastguard Rescue Teams warned the lifeboat crew that the island was close to being completely submerged as they raced to reach the pair.
The Seahouses lifeboat crew reached them just in time. Both were cold and wet but otherwise unharmed.
One eyewitness said the father and son appeared to have lost track of time, adding that the tide came in quietly and it was distressing to watch the sandbank shrink as they waited for rescue.
Another described the rescue as “very scary and emotional to watch”, praising the lifeboat crew for saving the pair and thanking volunteers for their efforts.
An RNLI spokesperson said: “These people were incredibly lucky; they didn't have long left before they'd have been forced to enter the water.
“Once we had dropped them ashore and turned to leave the bay, their island was completely submerged.”
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Just as crews had finished cleaning the boat, they were called out again.
Two people had to be rescued from the Holy Island causeway after their vehicle became stranded by the rising tide, around 3pm - more than an hour after the last safe crossing time.
Berwick Coastguard were also called out.
And both people were taken ashore with no injuries reported.
It's the latest in a series of rescues on the Holy Island causeway in recent weeks.
The Seahouses RNLI spokesperson added “Both of these shouts are a good reminder for people unfamiliar with how quickly and strongly the tides come in along our coastline that a simple walk on the beach can turn into a dangerous situation very quickly.”
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