Warning after Briton rescued from high tide in Brittany
The 45-year-old man had to be airlifted to hospital, prompting authorities to issue a warning
Very high tides and strong winds had been predicted over the weekend in Brittany
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Authorities in north-west France have urged the public to be extra cautious on the coast after a Briton required helicopter rescue from rising tides over the weekend.
A 45-year-old British man became trapped by the tide at around 20:20 on October 19, at the Pointe de Bellefard, in Saint-Lunaire (Brittany).
He was taken to hospital.
The prefecture of Ille-et-Vilaine (Brittany) issued the warning amid forecasts of Storm Ashley hitting the area on Sunday, October 20. The storm had been termed a “weather bomb” by forecasters due to the rapid loss of pressure it was forecast to see on landfall.
It is the third named storm to hit France in the past two weeks.
Read more: A new storm on way to France: Brittany on alert
Very high tides were predicted on the Breton coast, including a tidal coefficient of up to 112 for Saint-Malo on Saturday, October 19, and up to 103 on Sunday. For context, a tidal coefficient of over 100 is considered very high, and 120 is considered extraordinarily high.
The rescue happened amid forecasts of strong coastal currents, and a rapid rise in water levels. This increases the risks for anglers, walkers and sailors in the sea, or near the coast.
