Twenty-seven years ago, a serene summer day at Paignton Beach, Devon, descended into chaos in what is now remembered as ‘The Day the Sea Turned Red in Devon.’ On Sunday, August 10, 1998, between 800 and 1,000 beachgoers were injured, many suffering painful lacerations after stepping on razor fish shells exposed by an exceptionally low tide.
The day started calmly, with families enjoying the sun, laughter, and a busy Paignton Regatta filling the seafront. However, by around 1 pm, first aiders on Paignton Green began attending to a surge of visitors reporting sharp cuts from something in the shallow water. Panic swelled quickly as more swimmers entered the warm shallows, only to find themselves hurt by the razor-sharp shells hidden in the sand.
Emergency services responded swiftly to the unprecedented situation. Police, beach wardens, paramedics, and coastguards closed off the affected area, evacuated swimmers, and declared the beach unsafe. Ambulances queued along the waterfront while the Devon Air Ambulance landed dramatically nearby, aiding the flood of injured patients. Torbay Council declared a ‘total emergency,’ and Torbay Hospital’s A&E department braced for dozens of casualties.
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The vivid scenes of shocked and injured beachgoers fleeing the water drew comparisons to a ‘scene from Jaws,’ as described by then-MP Adrian Sanders. The injuries ranged from minor cuts to severe lacerations requiring hospital treatment. Thirty people, mostly children, were admitted to Torbay Hospital, some needing stitches and intensive care for deep wounds.
Emergency teams quickly set up an outdoor triage center on Paignton Green, transforming a once peaceful picnic spot into a hub of medical aid. Ambulance officer Chris Coles later recalled the scale of the incident: “We knew straight away we were dealing with multiple casualties.” Additional support was marshaled from the Red Cross and St John Ambulance volunteers.
Several children recounted their injuries: 11-year-old Lana McAreavey struggled to put on her shoe after stepping on a razor shell; 10-year-old Sarah Richards required three stitches after a sudden cut; and Charlotte Mills needed two stitches and a friend’s help to leave the water. Their accounts highlighted the unexpected danger lurking beneath the seemingly placid sea.
The cause was traced to an abnormal low tide that exposed razor fish shells buried just beneath the seabed—normally harmless but hazardous when stepped on. The sudden appearance of these sharp shells caught everyone off guard, turning a day of fun into a scene of confusion and injury.
In response, Torbay Council quickly installed warning signs, distributed leaflets, and used loudhailers to caution visitors. Local stores saw a surge in demand for protective footwear, with flip-flops and jelly shoes flying off shelves.
Reflecting on the event, a hospital spokesperson noted, “I have never seen anything like it before, and people who have lived here for years have never heard of this kind of thing happening.” The incident remains a stark reminder of how nature’s surprises can upend even the most idyllic days by the sea.