Dawlish News

Two girls age 15 and 16 were rescued after being swept into raging seas. They were walking along the sea wall at Dawlish and were caught by waves and swept into the sea. Their screams were heard by Matthew Gribble from his flat in Riviera Terrace, Dawlish. Matthew and his friend Andrew Riches ran across the seafront railway line joined by another friend Leigh Larratt, they threw life buoys to the girls who were fighting for their lives about 20 metres from the sea wall. RNLI crew from Exmouth arrived and battled strong winds and ferocious waves to pluck the girls to saftey. Helmsman White from the RNLI said "A few more minutes and the girls would most likely have drowned" The first girl pulled out was semi-concious and both girls were taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital where the younger girl was kept in over night in intensive care before being allowed home. Mr White described the rescue as one of the most hair-raising rescues in his 18years with the RNLI