Dramatic footage shows a young child being rescued by the RNLI after the inflatable dinghy she was on drifted out to sea off Kinmel Bay.

As Britons flocked to beaches on the hottest day of the year, one family’s Bank Holiday Monday in the sun turned into a terrifying ordeal in the seaside village in Conwy County Borough, north-east Wales.

A 999 call was made to the Coastguards after a dinghy that had been tethered to the shore became detached from its line and drifted out to sea with a little girl on board.

The RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched from Rhyl and the volunteer crew quickly located the child on the inflatable, who was crying for help.

“You okay? You alright?” volunteers can be heard shouting as they approached the girl, who was repeatedly crying: “Please help”.

She was taken safely back to shore to be reunited with her family.

The incident comes as the RNLI launched their beach safety campaign as the weather gets hotter – with the charity anticipating an extremely busy summer as COVID restrictions lift.

RNLI’s Head of Water Safety Gareth Morrison. Said: “We are expecting this summer to be the busiest ever for our lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crews.

“We want people to enjoy the coast but urge everyone to respect the water, think about their own safety and know what to do in an emergency.”

He said the RNLI’s main advice is to visit a lifeguard beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.

“RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling around 245 beaches this summer to offer advice on how to stay safe and they are also there to help anyone who gets into trouble,” he added.

“Coastal areas provide a great opportunity to enjoy fresh air and open space but they can be an unpredictable and dangerous environment, particularly during early summer when air temperatures start warming up but water temperatures remain dangerously cold, increasing the risk of cold water shock.”

People who get into trouble at sea are advised to float on their back and relax, resisting the urge to thrash about.

Those at the shore are urged to call 999 in an emergency and ask for the Coastguard.

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