The boat has been vandalised and broken apart in recent days, having now lain on the sands of King Edward’s Bay for more than seven weeks
A smashed up yacht which washed up on King Edward’s Bay in September(Image: Simon Greener/Newcastle Chronicle)
A vandalised shell of its former self, a beached boat lies abandoned in pieces 50 days after running aground on one of the North East’s most popular beaches. On September 10, rescuers were called to King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth after reports of a vessel “dangerously close to the rocks”, which later became grounded.
A man who had reportedly been on board for 45 days was taken to hospital, and black powder was returned to army barracks after a bomb squad was called to the incident. More than seven weeks on and the boat now lies in pieces on the beach, having become a climbing frame for children and a new place for dogs to mark their territory.
Paul and Margaret are regular visitors to Tynemouth, coming to the seaside village “almost every day” from their home in Northumberland. Paul told ChronicleLive: “I thought it would have been moved by now, I wouldn’t be surprised if kids set it alight.
Margaret added: “It’s only a week ago we saw it and it was fine, but you’d think it would have been cordoned off by now. The kids are off school so they’re going to wreck it.”
Paul and Margaret, from Northumberland, who believe the yacht on King Edward’s Bay should have been cleared up or cordoned off(Image: Simon Greener/Newcastle Chronicle)
North Tyneside Council told ChronicleLive on Friday, October 31, the boat is likely to be removed “next week”, but that is far too long for residents who have approached local councillors about their concerns at its impact on the Blue Flag-awarded beach. Julie Day, Tynemouth Labour councillor has urged residents and visitors to stay away from the vessel.
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Ms Day said: “Our residents remain concerned for the welfare of the yachtsman who was rescued by the RNLI. At the same time people are worried about contamination of the beach and sea, the presence of flares and the condition of the mast and rigging.
“I appreciate that the law in circumstances such as this is complex and the onus is on the vessel’s owner both to keep it safe and ultimately remove the wreck. I’m in touch with officers as given the amount of time that the wreck has been there it’s looking more and more likely that the Council or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency may need find a lawful way to intervene.”
The remains of a yacht that washed up on King Edward’s Bay back in September(Image: Simon Greener/Newcastle Chronicle)
A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “We’ve been in contact with the boat owner’s family and are finalising arrangements for the removal of the boat. We are working to have this completed as quickly as possible.”
Northumbria Police is understood not to have received any reports of vandalism in relation to the beleaguered vessel. The Ministry of Defence has had no further involvement since the initial callout.
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