Stop further drownings

Bethany Cousins died after getting into difficulty whilst in the sea close to Portballintrae just weeks ago. She had been body-boarding with her family when she got into trouble and while the Coastguard were able to rescue her, she died in the Causeway Hospital later.

World renowned surfer Al Mennie, who has tackled some of the most extreme conditions and biggest waves across the globe, has encouraged Benone beach-goers to get in contact with their local surf club ‘Long Line’ before risking getting into difficulties in the water at the popular tourist spot.

After Bethany Cousins’ tragic drowning, Mr Mennie said: “This is a plea to all visitors to our beaches to please do one thing before you enter our water. Ask a surfer. We aren’t all bimbo surf dudes smoking ‘weed’ and shouting “gnarly dude”, in fact some of us have unrivalled knowledge of the waters surrounding our coast, built from experience in all sorts of conditions. We’ve spent years

and years developing an incredible knowledge base which anyone coming to our beaches can benefit from if they ask us. Some of the surfers I know have felt dismissed when they offer advice to visitors. I have rescued lots of people along this coastline as have many of my friends.

“Please if you come to our beaches to swim, surf or paddle or anything else, ask a surfer if it is safe for you to enter the water and find out the reasons why it is or it isn’t.

“Quite often the calmest days can be the most dangerous, don’t make your own assumptions or judgements and instead ask someone who regularly surfs in these waters, and has a knowledge far beyond what you can imagine.

We have lifeguards on some beaches. They are there as a back up plan. The surfers have the knowledge and the experience so please speak to us.”

The world famous surfer went on to name Dan Lavery at Long Line Surf School as a “reputable surfer worth speaking to for advice” for anyone thinking of going into the water at Benone.

Mr Lavery opened Long Line surf school at Benone Beach this summer, and has already received recognition outside of water-sport circles for some of the projects run at the club to date, including a disabled surf festival and a project allowing blind people access to surfing.

Mr Mennie’s calls for further safety precautions at beaches such as Benone follow news last week in the Sentinel that the RNLI were applying for permission to erect a lifeguard station at the beach which would remain all year round.

Independent unionist MLA for East Londonderry David McClarty backed Al Mennie’s calls for further safety. He said: “I would call on anyone using the water to seek advice from people such as the local surfers.”

Bethany Cousins celebrated her 11th birthday just weeks ago. She died at Portballintrae after getting into difficulty while in the sea . The Coastguard recovered Bethany from the water before paramedics tried to resuscitate her. She was taken to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine where she later died.