Seven stranded students rescued from tidal island
Seven students have been rescued after becoming stranded on a tidal island in stormy conditions.
Lifeboat volunteers made four trips to bring the group from Worms Head, off the Gower, to safety in Rhossili on Saturday.
The group of American students - made up of five women and two men - had been spending some time at Swansea University and decided to make the trip to the island but were cut off by the incoming tide.
Jon Tarrant, one of the volunteer crew, said it was a "challenging rescue", adding: "The swell was up to two metres and the rise and fall of the water presented difficulties in picking up the people and also returning them to shore at Rhossili."
Three rescued after being cut off by rising tide
Warning after students stranded by high tide
The RNLI team said the students were "extremely grateful" and "could not believe that all the crew were unpaid volunteers".
Worm's Head is usually accessible on foot for two hours and 30 minutes either side of low tide, but can close earlier due to strong winds accelerating the arrival of high tide.
Lawrie Grove, lifeboats operation manager, said its opening times were displayed near to the causeway.
"I would remind people when walking on or near the coast to make sure that they check local tide times and plan walks accordingly," he added.
"They should never try to swim or wade to shore when cut off by the tide, it is extremely dangerous."
It is not the first time students have had to be rescued from Worm's Head, with a group of eight becoming stranded in October.

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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Virginia vulnerable to Trump's proposed cuts in emergency management and disaster relief
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Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
US Raises Alert for Popular Tourist Destination
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Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Hit the Road: Epic Midwest Road Trips You've Gotta Try
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It's a must-stop destination for dino-loving families. Get a tickets pass to eight main attractions of Indianapolis. And then visit Indy Island, one of Indiana's best indoor waterparks. The city neighborhoods of this Midwest vacation spot are connected via biking trails that wind through its cultural districts. SheBuysTravel Tip: If you have a membership to a local museum or zoo, check to see whether it is a member of a reciprocity group before you head off on your family vacation. It could mean free entrance to museums and zoos during your trip as well! There are groups for science museums, zoos and cultural institutions. Santa Claus, Indiana / Holiday World It's Christmastime year-round in Santa Claus, Indiana. Write a letter to Santa at the post office, or spend the day at the super family friendly theme park, Holiday World. Who doesn't love an entire theme park themed to Christmas? Des Moines Let the kids run off some road trip energy at Des Moines Pappajohn Sculpture Park. 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Whether you're visiting gorgeous beach towns on Lake Huron, spending the winter with sled dogs in Traverse City, touring the state capitol in Lansing or looking for the Northern Lights in Petoskey, there are so many delightful towns to visit in both the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. The state also offers a few unique Midwest vacation spots for your Midwest road trip. SheBuysTravel Tip: Looking to visit both Wisconsin and Michigan in one trip? Make the travel more fun by crossing Lake Michigan on the SS Badger car ferry! Detroit, Michigan If you haven't been to Detroit lately, you haven't been to Detroit. It is a city on the rise. Plan to spend a day at the beautiful Belle Isle Park, home to one of the oldest aquariums in North America. It's small and free and well worth a look to show the kids how aquariums have changed over the years. The Detroit Historical Society, a small but exceedingly well done museum, showcases the history of the town the automakers built. The Detroit Art Institute across the street is a world-class art museum with impressive special events. And don't miss a chance to eat a burger and fries at HopCat! Holland, Michigan Holland, Michigan may be the closest thing you can get to the Netherlands without traveling to Europe. A large, authentic Dutch windmill is perhaps the highlight of a stop in this Midwest vacation spot but there also are Dutch restaurants, architecture tours, and even wooden shoe carving shows. If you visit in May, you'll be treated to the Tulip Time Festival, too! Mackinac Island, Michigan This no-cars-allowed island between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas is probably the most famous Midwest vacation spot on our list. Mackinac Island is home to the United States' second-ever National Park. Mackinac Island National Park is 70 acres of forests, incredible rock formations, wildlife and beautiful water features, as well as historical and cultural landmarks. And it's a wonderful place to explore on bicycles because you don't have to dodge cars! Before you go, practice saying the name. It's pronounced Mack-i-naw even though it's spelled Mackinac. And it's definitely worth a visit, even if you can only spend one day on Mackinac Island. Saugatuck/Douglas, Michigan Long the playground of wealthy Chicagoans looking to beat the city heat each summer, there is a wealth of fun outdoors things to do in Saugatuck and neighboring Douglas. Topping that list is a visit to Oval Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Michigan. It's no wonder this small town has been named the "Best Beach Town in the Midwest" by Midwest Living magazine. Traverse City, Michigan This foodie town sits on the banks of Grand Traverse Bay and is the gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes(check out available tours), one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the world. Really. Feed your hungry teens anything cherry — from cherry jam to cherry burgers. Duluth, Minnesota Duluth, like many of the Great Lakes towns on this Midwest family vacations list, offers lots of outdoor activities for families. It is also home to Great Lakes Aquarium, the only freshwater aquarium in the US. Minneapolis, Minnesota Home to the Mall of America (which may be reason enough to visit), Minneapolis and its sister city, St. Paul, have so much to offer visitors. Explore the largest mall in the US, or enjoy a number of theater performances. Hike to Minnehaha Falls or explore miles of nature trails along the Mississippi River. It's also one of the most affordable family vacations in the Midwest, with lots of free things to do with kids. Branson, Missouri Branson, Missouri, is a fun and affordable vacation destination with beautiful lakes and mountains as well as fun shows and theme parks. Silver Dollar City is a family-friendly park themed to an old mining town. Choose from more than 40 rides and live entertainment. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri 'The Strip' at Lake of the Ozarks offers your typical tourist fare: gift shops, arts and crafts, fudge and candy factories and the like. But it's the beautiful lake (with more than 50 marinas), a collection of golf courses, horseback trails, boat tours through caverns and tours of mansions (both current and historic) that makes this a worthy Midwest vacation spot that will keep you busy for as long as you want to stay. St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis is one of our favorite Midwest getaway spots. Less than 6 hours from Cincinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Louisville, Nashville, Tulsa and Memphis, it may be the most centrally located destination on this list. You'll want to visit the Gateway Arch, of course, but plan to spend some time at Forest Park. It's larger than New York's Central Park and home to a free zoo and a number of free museums. There's also the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Grant's Farm and the eclectic, one-of-a-kind City Museum. There's a really fun and trendy waterfront area (Laclede's Landing), plus an aquarium and lots of stuff for sports lovers, including taking in a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. St. Charles, Missouri Just a half hour's drive from St. Louis is charming and historic St. Charles. Celebrate car culture with a stop at Fast Lane Classic Cars to ogle the 200 classic and muscle cars on display. Or forget about your car for a while and hop on board the St. Charles Trolley to ride the 30 minute loop around town. Download the app to track where the trolley is so you'll know how long you'll need to wait for a ride. The best part? It's free! Omaha, Nebraska Omaha as a must-do for foodies. It is one of the nicest, cleanest and most hospitable family vacation spots in the Midwest – especially in the spring when the weather is perfect. Don't miss the opportunity in Omaha for your kids to stand in two states at once! Check Omaha experiences here. Even though it was pouring rain, SheBuysTravel contributor Nasreen Stump said her kiddos still thought it was one of the coolest things they did on their Midwest road trip. There is plenty of parking on the Omaha side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. You can walk to the middle of the bridge and straddle the state line between Nebraska and Iowa. Activities for kids exist on both sides of the bridge. Cincinnati, Ohio Like the other large cities on this list, Cincinnati offers far too many attractions to really cover here. World-class museums, one of the best zoos in the country, several professional sports teams and a vast history are only a handful of the reasons to visit the Queen City. Check out the best nightlife options in Cincinnati and these fun free things to do in Cincinnati. Cleveland, Ohio The most famous attraction in Cleveland, Ohio is probably the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Even my kids, who didn't know half of the artists, found plenty of interesting things to see and do. Don't miss a stop at the fun hands-on Great Lakes Science Center next door. Save a few bucks by buying the combo ticket admission to both the hall of fame and science center. While you're in Cleveland, you should also check out the beautifully revitalized Little Italy neighborhood or catch a Cavaliers game. Hocking Hills, Ohio Travel less than an hour from Columbus, Ohio's capital city, and you'll find yourself at the beginning of Appalachia. Hocking Hills State Park has some of the area's best hiking for families. We've taken young kids there on paved trails and spent time on more difficult hikes with older kids and adults. For adventure seekers, there's zip lining. This Midwest vacation spot is also home to caves, waterfalls and cultural and historic attractions. Small lakes offer boating (pontoon and human-powered craft such as kayaks or canoes only) and water sports. Sandusky/Lake Erie Shore, Ohio Sandusky, Ohio, is home to Cedar Point Amusement Park, which bills itself as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World. We agree. It's where we took our kids to teach them to love roller coasters! Start with the smaller, tamer coasters and work your way up the Top Thrill Dragster — a steel coaster that reaches speeds of 120 mph as it shoots you straight up, then crawls over the top to wind straight back down, all in 17 seconds. There are also four indoor waterpark resorts and beautiful beaches along Lake Erie. From Sandusky, take a ferry to Kelleys Island or South Bass Island's Put-in-Bay. On these Lake Erie islands, take a cave tour, go fishing or climb the Marblehead Lighthouse in Port Clinton for spectacular views. Warren County, Ohio You can also take a scenic train ride to Lebanon, the county seat of Warren County – 'Ohio's Largest Playground.' Here you'll find a charming downtown area with some of the country's best antiques shopping. You can even dine – or stay overnight – at the Historic Golden Lamb Inn & Restaurant. Opened in 1803, the Golden Lamb has hosted 12 US presidents and dozens of other US and world dignitaries. Driving through South Dakota is THE iconic Midwest road trip. Start with a stop in Wall, South Dakota, to gawk at the incredibly touristy Wall Drug, wind through the breathtaking Badlands National Park, see Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, pay your respects to Crazy Horse, then watch the buffalo roam at Custer State Park. Consider staying in Rapid City. It's centrally located to all of the South Dakota attractions. Badlands National Park Take the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) and stop often to ogle the Instagrammable rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires of Badlands National Park. Watch for bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and other protected wildlife. Mount Rushmore Look up President Washington's nose (really!) as you hike around Mount Rushmore. That's the national park where the busts of four presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln — are carved into the side of the Black Hills Mountains. This Midwest vacation spot draws more than 3 million visitors every year. Custer State Park You can hike, fish and be wowed by Needles Highway here. But the biggest reason to visit Custer State Park is the chance to stop the car and watch the herd of 1,300 grazing buffalo on the Wildlife Loop. Crazy Horse Monument Unlike the other South Dakota attractions, Crazy Horse is a private endeavor run by a nonprofit. The project was started by Korczak Ziolkowski in 1948. It's still far from finished. Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the capital of Wisconsin and it's a rockin' college town. Take the free tour of the beautiful capitol building, then walk across the street to browse through the (also free) Wisconsin Veterans Museum. On Saturdays from April to November, the capital is circled with a huge farmers' market selling everything from veggies to the must-try Wisconsin cheese curds. (You know they're fresh if they squeak when you bite into them.) Here's our list of the best things to do in Madison, including eating some of Wisconsin's famous cheese curds. Never skip the cheese curds! Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin combines a beautiful beach on Lake Michigan with the hustle and bustle of an urban center. Visit the world-class Milwaukee Art Museum and take the little ones to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum and school-age kids to Discovery World. Motorcycle fans can visit Harley-Davidson Museum, and Milwaukee visitors can take part in several festivals throughout the year – including Summerfest, one of the world's largest music festivals. Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin About an hour north of Milwaukee, Elkhart Lake is a lovely, serene family vacation spot in the Midwest. Several hotels nestle along the shores of the lake, where the calm water tends to be much warmer than Lake Michigan. We love the beautiful Osthoff Resort which has a number of wonderful restaurants. Race fans will want to plan a visit to RaceAmerica to watch a race or take a track driving course. Green Bay, Wisconsin Green Bay is best known as the home of the powerhouse Green Bay Packers American football team, which is celebrated at the team's Titletown complex. But Green Bay also is the gateway to Door County. Known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest, Door County is famous for its small towns along the bay and its fish boils. Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin Dells calls itself the 'water park capital of the world.' While we love the giant indoor Kalahari Waterpark any time and the giant outdoor Noah's Ark waterpark in the summertime, there's much more to do there than just water slides. Much like a visit to Branson, Missouri, or Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you'll find a plethora of go-kart tracks, live dinner shows and boat tours. Don't miss a ride on the famous Duck Boats! Away from the hustle and bustle of those tourist destinations though, you'll also find plenty of water sports and hiking in the Dells' three nearby state parks. Editor's Note: This is an updated version of a post written by Jennifer Kaufman. Q: What is the best time of year to take a Midwest road trip? A: The best time to take a Midwest road trip is during the summer months (June-August) when the weather is warm and the attractions are open. However, if you're interested in fall foliage, consider visiting in September or October. Q: How long should I plan for a Midwest road trip? A: It depends on how many stops you want to make and how much time you have. For a comprehensive Midwest road trip, plan for at least 2-3 weeks. However, if you're short on time, you can still hit some of the highlights in a week or less. Q: What are some must-see attractions on a Midwest road trip? A: Some must-see attractions on a Midwest road trip include Mount Rushmore, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, and the Wisconsin Dells. Q: Is it safe to travel to the Midwest? A: Yes, the Midwest is generally a safe place to travel. However, as with any destination, it's important to exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings. Q: What are some budget-friendly options for a Midwest road trip? A: Some budget-friendly options for a Midwest road trip include camping instead of staying in hotels, packing your own food instead of eating out, and visiting free attractions like state parks and museums. 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