Schoolchildren rescued from Dover coast

CCTV showing the children stranded. Pic: Maritime & Coastguard Agency

CCTV showing the children stranded. Pic: Maritime & Coastguard Agency

Schoolchildren from Stamford Hill were dramatically rescued from a from Dover beach after getting stranded on Monday night.

The 34 teenagers from Ahavat Yisrael Community Centre got into trouble after following a hike along a dangerous part of the beach and getting trapped by the rising tide.

The group – who were walking between St Margaret’s Bay and Dover Harbour around 9pm – managed to raise the alarm using their mobile phones as beacons for the 40 volunteers of the rescue team.

Ahavat Yisrael Community Centre in Stamford Hill said: “We are hugely grateful to the coastguard whose swift actions ensured that everyone was returned to the shore safe and well.

“A full internal investigation will be held to ascertain the facts and understand the lessons to be learned.”

The “large-scale operation” to rescue the group included members of Shomrim, Dover RNLI lifeboat, Langdon coastguard rescue team, a helicopter and Walmer RNLI lifeboats.

Chaim Hochhauser, supervisor at Stamford Hill Shomrim, said: “Several Shomrim volunteers drove down from London to support the group and liaised with parents and families throughout the incident which thankfully ended well, thanks to the great work by RNLI and HM Coastguard.”

Mark Finnis, coxswain of Dover RNLI, said: “The group were caught out by a rising tide. Thankfully the quick and well co-ordinated search and rescue response meant all 36 casualties were rescued and were lucky to escape without serious injuries, but they’ve had a traumatic experience.

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