- The RNLI has warned people not to swim in the sea during Wednesday evening's solar eclipse.
- RNLI Jersey said its patrols finished at 6pm, shortly before the solar eclipse begins, and warned there would be an increase in swell and large pushing tides due to the eclipse.
- The eclipse won’t directly cause the strong tides, but solar eclipses always fall on a new moon, when tides are at their peak and therefore cause low and very high tides.
- A spokesperson for the RNLI said: "St Ouen's Bay will be a great place to view it but it can have strong rip currents right across the bay so please take care. Do not look directly at the eclipse unless you have the correct glasses."
- The lifesaving charity advised people in the sea to use the float to live technique, or if witnessing a person in distress to call 999 and ask for Jersey Coastguard.
- The UK and parts of Europe are about to see a solar eclipse, as the Moon moves in front of the Sun and blocks out its light; it is the most total solar eclipse since 1999, and won’t be matched again for decades.
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