Lifeboat provides support as family airlfited to safety

CLOVELLY S volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew were called out yesterday (Sunday) to a family of four who were trapped by the tide at Black Church Rock, near Mouth Mill two miles from Clovelly. The lifeboat crew were paged by the coastguard at around 6.30pm to g

CLOVELLY'S volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew were called out yesterday (Sunday) to a family of four who were trapped by the tide at Black Church Rock, near Mouth Mill two miles from Clovelly.

The lifeboat crew were paged by the coastguard at around 6.30pm to go to the aid of a family of four holidaymakers, two adults and two children, aged 10 and 13 years old.

They had been out walking at the cove when they had been caught out by some of the biggest spring tides of the year, which cut off their route back.

The crew immediately launched the Atlantic 75 lifeboat Spirit of Clovelly with volunteer Mark Cawsey at the helm. On arrival, crewmember Adam Beani swam ashore to assess the situation and the casualties.

He found them all unharmed and well but due to rough sea conditions and rocky terrain, back up was requested from the search and rescue helicopter at Chivenor.

The RNLI crew stood by while the family were airlifted off and dropped off, safe and well, at the Clovelly Court car park.

"We had some of the biggest spring tides of the year over the weekend, which can see a difference of more than 30 feet between high and low tide," said Nigel Eveleigh, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager for Clovelly.

"The tides will be dropping during the week, but we will still have late evening high tides. We urge both visitors and locals to seek tide times before they set off exploring. These can be found at the local tourist information office or at the RNLI lifeboat station.