Coastguard blasts couple who had ‘lucky escape’ when they were almost swept away by strong winds after taking to sea in inflatable boat
- Husband and wife in their 50s launched 8ft vessel and were blown out to sea
- A north easterly breeze sent them away from the coast of Seaton, Devon
- Fishermen raised the alarm and coastguards from Beer searched for them
A ‘clueless’ couple who put to sea in a rubber boat and nearly swept away were given a strict telling off by the coastguards after being rescued.
The husband and wife, who are in their 50s, launched the eight-foot-long inflatable, without wearing life jackets, thinking the freezing water looked quite calm.
But they were soon blown out to sea off Seaton, Devon, by a north easterly breeze, prompting a local fisherman to raise the alarm.
Coastguards from Beer rushed to the beach and searched for the couple using binoculars, but were unable to locate them until another fisherman also called 999 to say he had seen them struggling in the sea, two miles further along the coast.
The rescue operation rapidly relocated and found the exhausted couple on the beach.
After getting into trouble they had desperately paddled to get around a headland and out of the wind, and were about to call 999 before they managed to paddle back towards the beach.
They were given a ticking off by coastguards about safety and, with their dinghy deflated, sent away on foot.
Coastguards rapidly relocated and found the exhausted couple (pictured) on the beach. After getting into trouble they had desperately paddled to get around a headland and out of the wind
A spokesman for Beer coastguard has now said the couple had a lucky escape.
Terry Hoare said: ‘They thought it was a nice day and the sea looked calm so fancied a leisurely paddle.
‘They were spotted as they launched by a local fisherman who could see straight away what was going to happen.
‘They are very lucky he did see them and call us because it meant we were aware of it early on.
‘Another stroke of luck was getting round Beer Head as who knows how far they would have gone had that not happened.
The couple were blown out to sea off Seaton, Devon, by a north easterly breeze, prompting a local fisherman to raise the alarm (file picture, Seaton)
Coastguards rapidly relocated and found the exhausted couple on the beach (file image, Seaton beach)
‘When we found them they were not suffering any injuries but were quite tired from all the paddling.
‘To anyone thinking of doing they same thing we would remind people that even if it looks calm, you can’t see what the wind is like once you get away from the shore.
‘You should always wear a life jacket and keep your phone in a waterproof case in the event you have to call 999.’
Fisherman Mike Spiller, who raised the alarm, added: ‘I couldn’t believe that they launched beside me at Seaton – they didn’t have a clue.
‘I’m glad I raised the alarm but it was nice of them to return to see me after the incident and say thank you.’