Exmouth RNLI saves seven swept out to sea on inflatables

Exmouth RNLI volunteers saved seven people on small inflatables swept out by the tide on Monday (4 September).

The crew launched the all-weather lifeboat at 2.54pm and found the two adults and five children in the sea off Orcombe Point at 3.05pm.

They reportedly had no safety equipment or means of communication.

Another adult, unconnected to the original group, had gone out on his paddleboard and was using it to keep some of them afloat.

The RNLI brought all seven onboard the lifeboat and took them to Exmouth Marina. As they had been in the water for some time, an ambulance was called to check them over.

Exmouth RNLI coxswain Steve Hockings-Thompson said: "Inflatable toys are for a controlled environment like swimming pools, not the sea.

"They are easily caught in the wind or tide and taken out to sea very often placing young persons in great danger, which is what happened today.

"Myself and my crew were pleased that we were able to be quickly respond to this emergency and rescue those involved without them coming to any harm."