Firefighters called to rescue car from rising tide

Thursday 03 August 2023

Firefighters had to be called out yesterday evening to rescue a car in danger of being submerged by the rising tide.

The White Watch crew were called to retrieve the silver vehicle – which carried a UK registration number – from Green Street Slip around 19:30.

It comes just weeks after Jersey Fire and Rescue urged islanders to avoid parking on beach slipways following an incident in which emergency services were delayed trying to reach a casualty on the beach.

"This behaviour is putting people at risk," Jersey Fire and Rescue Service's Station Commander Craig Channing explained at the time.

"If we need to rescue people found unconscious in the sea, every second counts.

"If the emergency services cannot get to the casualty in good time, this life-threatening situation can become fatal.”

St. Helier Deputy Max Andrews yesterday put forward a proposal to widen existing beach slipway parking restrictions.

"Due to recent events unfolding whereby slipways were blocked during rescue emergencies, I have felt compelled to investigate this matter further," he wrote in a report outlining his proposition. 

"...This is something that cannot continue, and therefore, I hope the States Assembly support me to ensure the Minister engages with stakeholders to potentially introduce changes to the schedule of the Policing of Beaches (Jersey) Regulations 1959 pending the outcome of a consultation, to be completed no later than December 2024."

His proposition is due to be debated in the States Assembly on 12 September.