Dramatic moment girl is swept out to sea as horrified witnesses rush to save her

08 August 2023 , 23:42

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Dramatic moment girl is swept out to sea as horrified witnesses rush to save her

Footage shows a girl being swept out to sea after playing close to the waterfront before she was rescued by a person who fought the waves to reach her.

A group of four children were running about at Ilfracombe Harbour during high tide when a wave knocked a girl off her feet and swept her between the railings and into the sea. People could be seen in the clip looking on in horror and wondering how to reach the youngster.

But fortunately one quick-thinking member of the public retrieved a lifebuoy while another was able to catch the girl before she was swept further out to sea. The person went to a slip at the end of the pier which was underwater with crashing waves and was able to reach the girl.

Footage shows the girl swept out to sea (North Devon Council)

Ilfracombe RNLI then responded, providing casualty care to two children before taking them home. Now a warning has been issued from North Devon Council of the dangers of the sea following the incident shortly before 7pm on August 3.

Harbourmaster Georgina Carlo-Paat said: "This incident is a serious reminder of the dangers of tombstoning and other high-risk activities in the harbour. Not only were the youths lucky not to be more seriously injured, they put their lives in danger as well as those of quick-thinking bystanders who acted when they got into trouble.

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The girl had been playing by the waters edge (North Devon Council)

"The sea conditions were very volatile and all of the youths had been knocked off their feet on the slipway prior to the incident, but still continued to run into surging waves. Thankfully the RNLI were on exercise in the outer harbour at the time and were able to respond very quickly and tended to their injuries before escorting them all home."

Other footage on social media from a Devon car park next to the sea, shows cars being damaged and a woman being knocked over by the force of the waves. One huge wave crashed down causing one parked vehicle to move and bang into a wall.

Water can be seen engulfing vehicles and triggering the alarm on a parked van. A woman, stood in the car park, tried to escape one large wave but was knocked to the ground.

Tim Hanlon