A Castle Douglas girl was plucked to safety after being surrounded by the incoming tide at Southerness yesterday morning.
Silloth Lifeboat dashed across the Solway to pluck the 16-year-old from a rocky reef 200 metres out from the lighthouse.
Minutes later the teenager’s perch was submerged as high water approached at the popular holiday destination.
Lifeboat senior helmsman Steven Henderson was able to steer the boat through the reef and land the girl safely on shore.
He told the News: “We managed to find a way through the rocks and drop her off.
“She was stranded on an outcrop of rock about 200 metres out from the lighthouse.
“There was only a tiny part of it showing right at the end of the reef.
“She was totally surrounded by water and the worry was that she would try and swim for it.
“She is from Castle Douglas and was holidaying at Southerness with a friend.”
The lifeboat was scrambled by Belfast Coastguard at 9.47am after an emergency call from the public.
The vessel launched eight minutes later and was on the scene at 10.09am.
Mr Henderson said the girl was fine and able to talk to the crew throughout.
The rescue is the latest in a catalogue of near-tragic incidents at the notorious danger spot over recent weeks,
On April 29 the Silloth crew saved a hypothermic fisherman only minutes from death.
And on June 1 body boarders managed to bring ashore 20 picnickers half submerged by the rising tide.
Silloth Lifeboat also assisted at the scene.
Three rescues in nine weeks at the same location has raised fears that next time the outcome may not be so good.
Mr Henderson said: “This is going to happen again.
“People should stay on shore and always make sure you can get back safely.
“It looks very inviting to walk out along the outcrop.
“But there’s a low section in the reef some way out where the water comes round first and cuts people off.
“The tide comes in so quickly that they don’t have time to get back.”
The helmsman stressed the need to be aware of fast-flowing Solway at all times – and hammered home the safety message.
“Always check tide times and if in doubt ask the locals,” he said.
“Caravan and holiday parks will often give good advice.”
