ADVICE has been offered by a coastguard after a person spent 30 minutes in freezing water with onlookers not knowing what to do.

Just before 1pm, on Saturday January 17, coastguards received an emergency call reporting a dinghy in trouble and a person in the water near Burnham yacht harbour.

Bradwell coastguard and the Burnham inshore lifeboat team responded but the crew managed to get ashore before emergency services arrived.

A spokesman for Bradwell coastguard said: “A large number of people were walking the seawall and many saw the dinghy capsize and watched the occupants struggling in the icy water for 30 minutes or more, but surprisingly, only one lady reported it.

“Others later approached coastguards to volunteer comments ranging from ‘what took you so long they were in the water for ages’, ‘we thought they were in trouble but were not sure what to do’ and ‘they've been in trouble since they launched an hour ago’.

“30 minutes is an awfully long time to be in the water at this time of year even when wearing wet suits and lifejackets.”

So in response to the incident the advice from the coastguard is “if you see a vessel or person in trouble at sea or on the coast please dial 999 and ask for coastguard. Do this immediately, or get someone else to do it if you don't have a phone to hand. Never hesitate or assume someone else will do it because sadly it is not always the case and a life, or lives, may well depend on your actions.”