Coastguard pleads for beach-goers to stay safe after nine deaths in past 10 days July 23, 2021, 12:09 am An HM coastguard helicopter lifts off to airlift a person to safety at Old Hartley near Whitley Bay (Owen Humphreys/PA) The Coastguard has issued a plea for people to take care at the coast following nine deaths in the past 10 days. The warning has been issued as schools break up for summer and ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on Sunday (July 25) which has been organised by the United Nations to highlight the issue. A Coastguard spokeswoman said: “Coastguards across the UK have issued a stark warning to take care at the coast or risk tragic consequences.