FOUR PEOPLE RESCUED FROM THE WATER OFF EXMOUTH SEAFRONT

Four people were rescued from the water this afternoon after a member of the public dialled 999 to report to Brixham Coastguard that a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) had capsized at the mouth of the River Exe.

The call came in at 4.30 pm from a person on Exmouth seafront who could see what he thought was an overturned motorboat.  Brixham Coastguard sent the Teignmouth Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene, along with the coastguard rescue helicopter from Portland, and requested the launch of the Exmouth RNLI Inshore lifeboat.  The coastguard rescue team’s role was to observe the lifeboat from the shoreline due to the poor weather conditions on scene.

 At 4.46 pm the lifeboat had recovered all four people into the lifeboat and brought them ashore, where they were checked over by paramedics and deemed to not require medical attention.  Only one of the group of four young men was wearing a lifejacket.

Brixham Coastguard Watch Officer Paul Myers said:

“We would advise members of the public to check the weather forecast before going out on the water.  If you are unsure about whether it is safe to go out, always contact the Coastguard for safety advice.  The force 7 winds and rough seas on scene meant that it was a difficult rescue for the inshore lifeboat, and so it was inadvisable conditions to take a boat out into for people of any boating capability.  We would also recommend that anyone going out on the water in any kind of vessel wear a lifejacket and take appropriate safety equipment.”

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