Boy, 2, injured by fishing line cast from beach
- Published
The mother of a toddler who was cut by a fishing line while on a family kayaking trip has called for anglers to be banned from parts of the shore.
Two-year-old Coby was on the water at North Harbour beach in East Sussex with his brother Jonah, five, and their father Nick Brace when he was injured.
Coby's mother, Amy, said a line cast from the shore hit both her sons in the face.
Mrs Brace wants designated areas assigned for fishing.
"The fishing line came out of nowhere and brushed Jonah's face first," she told the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.
She said Coby was cut on the right side of his face near his mouth, which became infected and needed a course of antibiotics.
Mrs Brace said it was Coby's first trip out in the kayak when the family took to the water on 23 June and they were "quite close the shore" when the fishing line was cast.
"The fishermen pop up everywhere and it's a bit of a free-for-all," she said.
She posted on Facebook: "I personally don't feel fisherman should be able to just rock up on any area of coastline and cast a line. I feel there should be designated areas for the public and for fishermen."
She is calling for signs to be put in place to remind beach users to be aware of possible dangers of fishing lines.
One angler who fishes from the beach said: "If you're out in a boat and people are fishing off the beaches you need to try and keep clear of the lines."
He said he would not fish from the shore if the beaches were busy, adding: "Both sides should act with a degree of caution."
Mrs Brace said: "I just hope Coby isn't left with a scar."
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