Seven children are among ten people rescued after being thrown from a rowing boat that was overwhelmed by waves off the Dorset coast
- They had been 750ft out to sea when they were struck by the waves
- Their parents had been watching from the shore and swam out to their children
- Seven children and three adults eventually made it to the shore of West Bay
Seven children are among ten people to have been rescued after being thrown from a rowing boat off the Dorset coast.
They had been overwhelmed by waves which had battered the coastline and had been in a long gig rowing boat 750ft out to sea.
They were tipped into the cold water as the craft overturned off West Bay.
It is thought that two of their parents who were watching from the shore entered the sea and swam out to the children.
The children had been out in a boat on West Bay (pictured above) and their parents had been watching them from shore
Everyone involved, including about seven youngsters and three adults, reached shore safely.
They were warmed up inside the harbour masters’ office by coastguards who had been called to the emergency at about 10am.
Three of them – two adults and a child – were later taken to hospital.
A spokesman for Lyme Regis Lifeboat said: ‘The lifeboat crew launched at 9.48am, initially to a report of an overturned gig with people in the water.
‘When they arrived on scene adults and children were ashore, some inside the harbourmaster’s office. The gig was on the beach.’
A spokesman for the coastguard said: ‘HM Coastguard received multiple 999 calls just before 9:40 this morning saying that a rowing gig had overturned near West Bay harbour.
‘West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team and Lyme Regis Lifeboat were sent. The ten people that were in the gig were able make their own way out of the water.
‘The coastguard rescue team assisted the people before they were checked over by the ambulance service.
‘Two adults were taken to hospital by the ambulance service.’