Father punches passer-by after family enters red-flagged Polzeath beach during Storm Austen
A father struck a man who tried to warn his family about entering the red-flagged waters at Polzeath beach while Storm Austen produced 80 mph gusts.
On Friday, Storm Austen generated gusts of up to 80 mph along the Cornish coast, prompting red-flag warnings at several beaches. At Polzeath, a family in wetsuits and carrying bodyboards ignored the flag and waded into the surf. A male passer-by attempted to advise them of the danger, but the father reacted aggressively, raising his fists and striking the passer-by before returning to the water with one child. Witnesses recorded the incident, and the RNLI arrived shortly thereafter to escort the family away. The altercation highlights the risks of ignoring official beach safety notices during severe weather.
Why it matters
It shows how dangerous weather warnings can be ignored, leading to confrontations and safety risks on public beaches.
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