TWO people trapped by a rough tide on Blue Anchor beach, clinging on to a rope thrown by a fisherman, were saved by Watchet and Minehead Coastguard teams in a dramatic rescue last Thursday.

Arriving on the scene, coastguards found the two trapped below the walls of the Blue Anchor Inn near to the rock armour and in danger of being swept away. A third man had managed to wade ashore.

A fisherman who had spotted the pair had managed to throw them a rope and supported them from above until help arrived.

A coastguard spokesman said: “We performed a snatch rescue, grabbing the two persons from the water and back onto the land.

“Minehead lifeboat arrived on the scene and provided protection and safety cover should the two adults or the coastguards be swept away from the rock armour and further out into the sea.

“Luckily they were not required and stood down after the two had been pulled from the sea.”

As part of a busy weekend, Minehead Coastguard team was involved with a rescue involving a broken-down motor boat reported to be between Ilfracombe and Minehead.

Lifeboats from Minehead and Ilfracombe located the vessel and towed it into Minehead harbour.

On Sunday afternoon, teams from Watchet and Minehead Coastguard were involved in a search for a man who had made a call to a relative saying that he was unwell, had collapsed and did not know where he was.

Coastguards and police officers, joined by the coastguard rescue helicopter from St Athan, Wales, searched for the missing man, who was found by two walkers. He had fallen into deep vegetation and could not be seen by the helicopter crew.

He was winched into the helicopter and landed at the car park above Bergundy Chapel, where he was transferred to Minehead Hospital.

The coastguard wishes to remind anyone visiting the coastline to always tell someone where they are going and when they will be back, as well as checking tide times. Where the high water mark is unknown, visitors should seek local advice to ensure they do not get cut off.