Nature's beauty at a deadly cost.

One of the four beaches near the town of Locquirec.

As tranquil and innocent as the sea may look at low tide, it can quickly become a treacherous and lethal site. Yesterday afternoon, the day after my friend Louise and I gathered cockles on this very same beach, three elderly ladies drowned when they were surprised by the rapidly rising tide. http://fr.news.yahoo.com/64/20100909/tfr-mort-de-trois-femmes-piges-par-la-ma-a2f96e4.html

This time of year, the equinox brings with it the highest tides of the season, to which even the well seasoned locals can fall victim. We saw its effects in Lannion last evening, as the river running through the town center had already crested its banks and was flooding the parking lots and homes which were built along its banks.

The beach in Locquierec, where we gathered cockles, is different in one respect than from the other nearby beaches because is has an estuary, or river, which runs through it and continues out to sea. It is necessary to wade cross this river in order to get to the higher spots where the largest number of cockles lay buried in the sand banks.

Louise studied the tide's forecast before we went out, so that we had our "fishing" time precisely planned. Even at low tide, the estuary's water runs rapidly and can be nearly knee deep in some areas. We finished our fishing quickly while keeping an eye on our surroundings and headed back to the beach within an hour's time, although there were many people who had gone quite a distance away from the shoreline and looked like specks on the horizon from where we were standing.

The water level can be deceiving to those who aren't

careful.

The rain began to fall as we drove away to take a quick tour of the area. During the time that we enjoyed coffee at a friend's house nearby, the tide had already turned and was nearly covering the beach as we drove past it on our way back home.

This morning, I listened in disbelief, as as we learned that 3 ladies in their 70's had lost their lives there yesterday afternoon when they became trapped on a sand bar, between the estuary and the beach. Witnesses there could do nothing to save them. Moments after hearing this news, a neighbor living several houses away, called to tearfully recount the story of her last minute rescue as she nearly became a victim of this same deadly tide.

It's important to remember that we must always respect the power of Nature. Look at it, enjoy it but always remain diligent where one's safety is concerned. You will never get a second chance to relive such a mistake as this.