Search for woman off beach
Big Ben had hardly stopped bonging before Exmouth's RNLI team were out on a shout. At one minute past midnight on New Year's Day reports of a female in difficulty in the water came through and the good men and women of the lifeboat crew were into their oilskins. The woman was said to be in the water somewhere between the Octagon and Exmouth Rowing Club.
Volunteer RNLI mechanic Paul Balb launched the inshore lifeboat quickly and made its way to the scene where the crew, led by helm Henry Mock and volunteer crew Scott Ranft began a search.
Fortunately, they weren't needed. The lady had made her way back safely to the beach, where she was met by police, ambulance staff and Her Majesty's coastguard, and given a quick medical check. It's not thought she'd been injured.
Helm Henry Mock says: “This individual had entered the sea on a very cold night and at a time when there was a strong tidal current running. She was very lucky to have made her way back to shore in that strong sea state and we would urge anyone not to venture into the sea in such conditions.”
Within two hours, the lifeboat was back at its base. All's well that end's well at the start of 2020.
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