‘We’re in the water!’ Teesside influencer caught out by Holy Island tide times

A trip to one of Northumberland’s best-known landmarks turned into an unexpected overnight stay for Teesside creator Craig Harker and fellow influencer Bobby Sharma after they misread the safe crossing window to Holy Island.

Harker, from Stockton, was travelling with Sharma, who creates content under the name The Yorkshire Indian, after a weekend in Edinburgh. The pair decided to visit the island as a bucket-list stop before heading home.

Although Sharma had checked the causeway timetable, the information he found led him to believe they had several hours before the rising tide made the crossing dangerous. By the time they returned to the road, seawater was already spreading across the causeway.

Footage recorded during the incident captures the growing urgency as Harker warns that the water is advancing rapidly. The pair briefly considered attempting the drive, but abandoned the idea when it became clear that the road could soon disappear beneath the tide.

Sharma later admitted that he had felt embarrassed by the mistake. He said the crossing initially looked deceptively safe, making it easy to underestimate how quickly conditions could change.

“It looked like we had plenty of time,” he explained. “But when the water began covering the road, it was obvious that continuing would have been too risky. If a vehicle gets stuck halfway across, reversing may not be possible.”

Rather than gamble with the crossing, the two creators returned to Holy Island. They spent the evening there with their families, enjoying a meal at a local pub and making the most of an unplanned break from their usual online routines.

With little or no mobile connectivity available, the group put their phones aside and spent the evening talking. Sharma said the experience offered a welcome change from constant notifications, scrolling and screen time.

Holy Island’s causeway is accessible only during specific periods, with the timetable changing according to the tides. Visitors are advised to check the latest official crossing information before setting off and to allow plenty of extra time.

Rescue organisations have also issued clear guidance for anyone caught by the tide:

• Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
• Give your exact location and mention nearby landmarks.
• If it is safe, move towards the refuge hut on the landward side of the causeway.
• If leaving the vehicle is unsafe, remain inside and wait for assistance.
• If entering the water becomes unavoidable, remember the “Float to Live” advice: stay calm, lean back, keep your airway clear and resist the instinct to swim immediately.

The incident ended without injuries, but the creators’ experience is a reminder that a calm-looking causeway can become hazardous in a matter of minutes. For anyone planning a visit, checking the correct tide information—and leaving well before the stated closing time—is essential.