Stranded trio and a lifeboat crew member are airlifted to safety

Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched yesterday evening (Monday, October 26) to assist in the rescue of three people trapped by the high tide.

The lifeboat was launched at 3. 56pm following reports that a man, a woman and a sixteen year old boy were stranded between Charmouth and Golden Cap to the east of Lyme Regis.

They were walking towards Charmouth and were unable to get to high ground as the tide came in.

Because of the choppy conditions the lifeboat crew felt they could not get the three people aboard safely. Crew member Tom Crabbe swam 200 metres ashore to reassure them and help them walk to safety.

Half an hour before high tide the coastguard helicopter airlifted the three walkers and Tom Crabbe and landed them at Charmouth where they were met by coastguards.

Lifeboat helm Murray Saunders said: “Because of the pitching swell we would not have been able to get the three people off the beach safely so it was necessary to call for the coastguard helicopter.”