ELLIE HARRISON

To have the best time at the seaside, play it safe when it comes to tides, kill cords and cliff edges

We love to be carefree on the beach, but beware the hidden power of the sea even on the calmest day.

It’s a novel national sport, scoffing at health and safety. Many examples of when it’s ‘gone mad’ aren’t even true but we like to pass the time incredulous. We know too that our ancestors were pulled into the machinery of industrial mills as shoeless children and paid a dreadful price, so nobody really exercises their derision beyond an eye roll.

Health and safety is mostly motherhood and apple pie. It’s the sensible, steady checks (that slows down all our adventure filming, taking hours before we get in the water). It’s calm, slow and logical rather than exciting, wild and free. It’s also often the reason we’re still here. And worth a quiet reminder as we head into a new environment where we lack experience. With few natural dangers, the UK doesn’t feel particularly risky: our most exciting predators are long since shot, it’s a treat even to see an adder let alone be harmed by one, and both weather and wilderness are in the moderate range. So, it’s no wonder we make misjudgments when we’re away from home turf. Particularly with an attitude like mine: talking with a friend who is an experienced helicopter rescue pilot, I was genuinely puzzled that people could get into trouble next to the beach in the height of the British summer. But he’s never been busier.

KNOW YOUR TIDE TIMINGS

Not understanding tides is one of the problems. Just as city children may not know the full picture of the food chain, if people don’t often go to the sea, why would they know about tides? Walking around a headland to a lovely cove before the tide comes in is a common seaside misstep. Similarly, where one day locals may know when it’s safe to go tombstoning in several metres of water, visitors try at the same spot when the tide is out.

While it feels square to swim within lifeguard flags – and people are allowed to swim wherever they want – rip tides are the mysterious unseen threat. It takes the knowledge of daily dippers and surfers to understand precisely where the dangers are. I protest that I’m a very strong swimmer. Not against a full tonne per square metre. Even in summer, waters in the south reach only 18°C and with sea temperatures out of sync with the seasons, a second of cold shock, one gasp of panic and it’s easy to get a lungfull. A single moment for even confident swimmers to get into trouble.

A topple from a paddleboard might see the leash caught underwater and, in areas of fastmoving water, the Velcro release (located around the ankle) might be out of reach; some now advise that the leash be strapped around the thigh. Beware too, paddling at dusk when a sea fog can come in; get used to checking the weather for more than SPF (sun protection factor). Another key one is to always wear the kill cord on boats and jet skis, no matter the qualifications not required or how many drinks in the sun. For my friend who has worked in the aftermath of these accidents, they are life altering for all involved.

In the main, it’s not people’s fault: things can quickly change from calm to chaos. Anyone can turn an ankle on an inaccessible coast path and require help by air. But there are some illogical moves best avoided in any environment. Don’t attempt to rescue your dog from over a cliff or in the sea – let experts do that. Don’t picnic on the beach at the bottom of a cliff face (I’ve done this). And do avoid, as my friend has seen on occasions, sitting on the unstable chalk edge of Birling Gap, dangling your feet over the 400ft drop.

Watch Ellie on Countryfile, Sunday evenings on BBC One.