Race against the tide as coastguard scramble in high wind beach drama at Formby

Mar 26
1 min read

There was a dramatic rescue response along the Formby coastline tonight, Thursday 26 March, after fears were raised for a man driving a tractor dangerously close to the sea near Altcar.

HM Coastguard Crosby were urgently tasked after reports came in that the tractor was travelling along the shoreline in high winds and rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, sparking serious concerns for the driver’s safety.

Crews launched a full search operation, deploying both their Argocat all terrain vehicle and Coastguard Rescue Vehicle, combing the beach from Altcar Rifle Range right through towards Formby.

With strong winds whipping across the coast and conditions becoming increasingly hazardous, the situation was treated as a potential emergency.

During the search, coastguard teams discovered fresh tyre tracks leading away from the shoreline and up towards the sand dunes, suggesting the driver had managed to move to safety just in time.

After carrying out a thorough sweep of the area and confirming there was no immediate danger, the team stood down and made their way back to station in extremely challenging conditions.

This incident is a stark reminder of how quickly conditions can change along our coastline, particularly during high winds.

Coastguard teams have praised the member of the public who raised the alarm, highlighting that calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard was absolutely the right thing to do.