Volunteer helm, Jon Clark, spoke after the launch of the lifeboat on 13 June to a report of a young child drifting on a lilo east of Bournemouth Pier. Poole Lifeboat was swiftly heading to the rescue when news came through over the radio that the child was safe.

“It’s not that we don’t want people to enjoy themselves,” said Jon Clark, “we want people to be safe. Inflatables are not designed for open water and like today, [13 June], it takes very little breeze for them to be swept out to sea much quicker than you can swim or paddle back. What may seem fun at first can change in a matter of seconds.”

Only a few days earlier on 8 June, both Poole lifeboats were launched to a report of children in an inflatable with one person in the water being blown offshore in Shell Bay.The lifeboats were soon on the scene. After a short search the people were located safely ashore. Fortunately the casualties were okay.

Jon Clark said: “Don’t take the risk and just don’t underestimate the offshore breeze and currents, conditions are constantly changing, it could take your loved ones away in an instant. Please leave inflatables at home.”