RNLI warn revellers to avoid the sea when drunk after couple are airlifted to safety by helicopter

RNLI warn festive revellers to avoid the sea when drunk after couple are airlifted to safety by helicopter after being spotted clinging to rocks near pub

  • Pair had to be airlifted to safety after getting stuck 30 – 40ft up on Towan beach 
  • Coastguard rescuers, the helicopter and lifeboats were called in the early hours 
  • Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team described the incident as ‘two lives saved’ 

A man and woman were dramatically rescued after they were left clinging to rocks at a British resort when they were trapped by the tide.

The pair had to be airlifted to safety after getting stuck 30 – 40ft up on Towan beach, Newquay, Cornwall near a pub in the early hours. 

Coastguard rescuers, the helicopter and lifeboats were also scrambled in the early hours of Saturday.

The pair had to be airlifted to safety after getting stuck 30 – 40ft up on Towan beach, Newquay

Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team described the incident as ‘two lives saved by great teamwork’.

A spokesman said: ‘At 3.20am Saturday 22 December our volunteers, along with Newquay RNLI lifeboats, were paged to attend two persons cut off on the rocks at at Towan Beach.

‘Newquay inshore lifeboat was quickly on scene and located the casualties but, due to their position, were unable to extract them.

Cornwall Coastguard rescuers, the helicopter and lifeboats were also scrambled in the early hours of Saturday

Cornwall Coastguard rescuers, the helicopter and lifeboats were also scrambled in the early hours of Saturday

‘Our team arrived and gained communication with the pair who were stuck 30 foot up on a rock outcrop below Belushis pub, completely cut off by the tide.

‘A number of options to rescue them were identified but the safest was by helicopter.

‘Rescue 924 attended and safely winched both casualties to safety whilst our team and the lifeboat provided safety cover.

'After providing safety cover in the bay during the rescue, the lifeboat crew returned to the harbour at 4.30am,' a spokesman said 

‘After providing safety cover in the bay during the rescue, the lifeboat crew returned to the harbour at 4.30am,’ a spokesman said 

A spokesman for Newquay RNLI added: "Our RNLI lifeboat volunteers were woken by their pagers at 3.26am on Saturday after a 999 call was received'

A spokesman for Newquay RNLI added: ‘Our RNLI lifeboat volunteers were woken by their pagers at 3.26am on Saturday after a 999 call was received’

‘Padstow Coastguard team were paged and provided a helicopter landing site at the Barrowfields where the casualties were landed, cold and wet but luckily uninjured’.

A spokesman for Newquay RNLI added: ‘Our RNLI lifeboat volunteers were woken by their pagers at 3.26am on Saturday after a 999 call was received, reporting two people trapped by the tide on a rock at the southern end of Towan Beach.

‘The charity’s D class inshore lifeboat launched with three crew onboard and quickly arrived at the scene.

‘But with a two-metre swell hitting the rocks and with the man and woman not in immediate danger, sat at the top of the rock approximately 30-40ft above the water, it was decided that the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter would provide the safest evacuation.

The helicopter crew rescued both people from the rock and landed them safely at the Barrowfields

The helicopter crew rescued both people from the rock and landed them safely at the Barrowfields

‘With support on the cliff top from Newquay Coastguard, the helicopter crew rescued both people from the rock and landed them safely at the Barrowfields, where they were met by colleagues from Padstow Coastguard and the police, cold and wet but otherwise unhurt’.

‘After providing safety cover in the bay during the rescue, the lifeboat crew returned to the harbour at 4.30am.

‘Please stay safe and respect the water over the Christmas holidays.

‘Don’t go into the sea after drinking alcohol and if you see anyone in difficulties, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’ 

 

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