Swimmers rescued after tide takes them out to sea

The Exmouth ILB, George Bearman II, was joined in the search by Exmouth RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat R&J Welburn and the rescue water craft from the Exmouth RNLI Lifeguard team

Lifeboat crews were scrambled to search for two swimmers who had been taken out to sea by a strong spring tide off Exmouth.

Two sea swimmers were reported overdue on Wednesday morning so both Exmouth RNLI lifeboats and rescue water craft from the lifeguard team were launched at 11:42 BST.

The RNLI said the crews were told one swimmer had managed to swim to the beach but the other was still missing.

A short time after, the lone swimmer was found by crews about 0.5 miles (0.8km) off Orcombe Point, the RNLI said.

'Pay close attention'

The RNLI said neither of the swimmers was injured.

Steve Hockings-Thompson, Exmouth RNLI coxwain, said: "Today’s very strong outgoing spring tide caught the swimmers unaware and quickly took them out to sea."

He thanked the group of swimmers for calling for help when they saw the pair in danger and asked sea swimmers to "pay close attention" to the state of the tide, take appropriate safety equipment with them and swim only in familiar waters and conditions.