Boy Drowns at UK Beach After Lifeguards Off Duty and Safety Signs Faded

A 14-year-old boy tragically drowned after being swept out to sea while playing in the waves with friends at Crosby Beach in Merseyside, an inquest has heard. Daniel Halliday had gone to the beach on 30 June last year with two other friends, where they were jumping waves, taking photos, and just having a fun summer evening together. But things quickly took a terrifying turn when the waves grew stronger, and Daniel was pulled out into the sea.

One of his friends, who gave a statement to the court but can’t be named, described how they were all enjoying themselves until it became clear something was wrong. He said another friend was struggling, so he helped her out of the water and turned back to help Daniel. He threw a life ring, but the rope was too short to reach him, reported the Daily Record.

“I was screaming and shouting because I was getting nowhere,” he said. “There was no lifeguard or coastguard during our time on the beach, and no one told us not to go into the water. At no point did we know the water at Crosby Beach was dangerous to enter.”

The beach, famous for Antony Gormley’s Another Place sculptures, does usually have lifeguards — it’s the only beach in the UK to be staffed every day of the year. But they’d finished for the day at 6 pm. Daniel got into trouble just after that, at around 6.30 pm.

CCTV later showed him still above the water before disappearing from view. His body was discovered days later by an RNLI crew off the coast of New Brighton. Emergency services had mounted a huge search operation, involving lifeboats, the police helicopter, coastguard, fir,e and ambulance teams. The search went on until 1 am and then resumed at first light before it was eventually called off.

The inquest heard that the water conditions at Crosby can be especially dangerous — with fast-moving tides, sinking mud, and its proximity to a major shipping lane on the River Mersey that can cause unexpected waves.

A life buoy that was used during the rescue attempt hadn’t even been installed by the local council but instead appeared to have been placed there by a well-meaning member of the public. It wasn’t suitable for use in that part of the water, according to council staff.

Daniel’s family pointed out that the beach’s safety signs were faded and dull, and his mum, Paula Heaton, said: “They’re not going to attract a child’s eye.” Senior Coroner Julie Goulding ruled the death an accident, calling it a “catastrophic” incident during what was meant to be a fun day out. Plans are now underway to improve signage and awareness at the beach.

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