Kayakers rescue father and son trapped by incoming tide at Seven Sisters

Members of the Cuckmere Valley Canoe Club have told people to be aware of the dangers of walking under the cliffs at low tide, ahead of the long weekend and warmer weather.

It comes after a father and son got stranded on the beach under the Seven Sisters cliffs towards Eastbourne earlier this month.

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They were rescued by members of the club - experienced sea kayakers who made a raft with a kayak and stand-up paddleboard to tow the pair to safety, after their return walking route became blocked by the rising tide.

Photo: Cuckmere Valley Canoe Club

A spokeswoman for the club said: "Without the help of these experienced kayakers, the father and young son would have been forced into the cold water before rescue services arrived.

"However mild the air temperature, the sea is still under 10 degrees in the spring and getting caught in the water can seriously affect your breathing and movement.

"It wasn’t the only potential incident that day either – the kayakers also had to advise two further pairs of walkers to return to Birling Gap for their own safety.

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"People are often walking down the steps at Birling Gap or on the Eastbourne side, as they think they can get to the lighthouse when it's low tide.

"They start walking and get stuck. People have been trapped on the steps of the lighthouse before.

"The reduced beach depth is also a hazard as it forces the walkers to be directly below unstable cliff falls.

"Ahead of this bank holiday weekend with better weather forecast and more of the UK population taking staycations, it’s more important than ever to make people aware of the dangers."

The coastguard was informed about the incident involving the father and son on May 2 and thanked the kayakers for their assistance.

The club is also warning people to stay away from the top of dangerous cliff edges.

People pictured on the edge of cliffs at Birling Gap earlier this year. Photo: Eddie Mitchell

The spokeswoman added: "We see people constantly standing on the cliffs at the top along Seven Sisters - sometimes dangling their legs or having picnics.

"We are urging people to keep well back.

"As stunning as the cliffs are, there have been excessive amount of cliff falls this year along the eroding chalk coastline - not the place you want to get caught standing under at high tide.

"Walkers are reminded to check tide times and allow plenty of time to walk to safety on an incoming tide."