NCI Exmouth warns swimmers of dangerous waters in front of Coastwatch House

NCI Exmouth is asking visitors to the beach to read the signs and take note of the hazards particular to the area of beach they are using.

This has been prompted by the increasing number of people using the water in front of the lookout on Queens Drive.

This area of water is dangerous and RNLI red flags are flown on the beach to alert the public that swimming should not take place here.

A sign is also placed on the slipway to inform people before they go down onto the beach.

There is a deep water channel very close to the beach and at certain states of the tide the current can be extremely fast and strong.

This, combined with an offshore wind, could be a recipe for disaster for swimmers and especially those using inflatables.

Ivor Jones, station manager at NCI Exmouth, said: "I have just come off an extremely busy shift in the lookout today with hundreds of boat movements in and out of the estuary.

"A rowing race was taking place in the vicinity and jet skis and paddle boarders were vying for space in the water.

"I was alarmed and very concerned at the amount of people ignoring the red flags and both swimming and allowing young children to use inflatables in this area.

"In the interest of your safety and that of others we ask that you swim between the red and yellow flags where there are lifeguards patrolling."

NCI Exmouth has already assisted HM Coastguard with 21 incidents this year.

A sign is clearly displayed on the slipway here. The sign may be old, but the message is bang up to date and very clear. This stretch of water is dangerous.

NCI Exmouth is on watch every day of the year and works with HM Coastguard and the RNLI. Currently, its watch times are between 8am and 8pm. In an emergency, officers are on-call outside of these hours.

As well as listening out for mayday calls, NCI Exmouth assists mariners by providing them with the facility to check that their radio is working before they commence a journey.

It operates on VHF Channel 65, with the call sign 'Exmouth NCI'. It also provides reports of in-shore weather conditions.

You can find out more on its website here.